











^ A^ * fCvv sr A 's^^ ^ 




.' .^'"-^ 












•0 o^l; 
























v^ ^ 












•c ^« 












"V^^^ 
,/% 






Ao^ 



.^^^^ 



*0 ^ 






.0^ X'^^-'y"^ '*'^q.''^^V^ \""'^^-'°y* '^^o' 

















!|!lMSil»i 



1 



Great Exhibilion of the Industry of All Nations, 1851 



REPORT 



OF 



. J 

BENJ. P. JOHNSON, 



AGENT OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, APPOINTED TO ATTEND THE 



ExMbition of the Industry of All Nations, 



HELD IN LONDON, 1851 




ALBANY: 

C. VAN BENTHUYSEN, PUBLIC PRINTER. 
1352. 



J 

f 
'a. 








MR. JOHNSON'S REPORT, 



TO 



HIS EXCELLENCY GOV. HUNT, 

ON THE GREAT EXHIBITION, 

LONDON. 



EEPORT. 



To His Excellency Washington Hunt. 

Sir — When I received the appointment as agent of the State, 
to attend the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations in London, 
I did not anticipate that an extended report would be expected 
from me. The expression of a desire from your Excellency since 
my return, has led to the preparation of the accompanying report. 

During the Exhibition, I took notes of such portions of it as 
to me appeared of special interest, and gave particular attention 
to those departments which seemed to have a practical bearing 
upon the interests of this country, and which appeared to be most 
useful and important. 

In preparing the report, I have availed myself of the descrip- 
tions given by the exhibitors themselves of the articles which are 
specially noticed, when these could be obtained, and when these 
were not to be had, I have given from my own notes and recol- 
lection, such notice of them as I trust will render them intelligible. 

I left New- York on the 16th of April last, in the steamer Baltic, 
and arrived at London the day previous to the opening of the 
Exhibition, and as soon as the Exhibition was opened, I took the 
charge of such articles as had been specially committed to my 
supervision, and all the attention in my power was given to their 
proper exhibition, and in every case these articles were brought 
to the notice of the Jurors, and received due examination. In 
addition to the articles specially committed to my care, I deemed 



6 [Assembly 

it my duty to call the attention of the Jurors to all the contribu- 
tions from this State, so that a proper examination might be 
secured. 



The importance of this Exhibition, in which so much interest 
has been manifested by almost every nation of the world, will 
justify a brief history of its origin, rise and progress, in connection 
with remarks upon the exhibition itself. 

ORIGIN OF THE EXHIBITION. 

Its origin may probably be traced to one held in France in 
1844, somewhat similar in its character. Since that period, the 
subject of a National Exhibition in London, had excited much 
attention in Great Britain, and was frequently brought before the 
Society of Arts, of which his Royal Highness, Prince Albert, was 
the President, in 1845, and, it is mainly due to his exertions and 
influence that it was finally resolved upon. In order to carry 
out the objects of the exhibition, a Royal commission was formed, 
and funds to a considerable amount were raised by voluntary sub- 
scription, to aid in defraying the necessary expenses. After a 
large number of designs for the building in which the proposed 
exhibition was to be held, had been prepared and submitted to the 
Commission, and a plan for the building had been agreed upon, 
Mr. Joseph Paxton, submitted a new plan for a structure to be 
composed mainly of iron and glass, which was accepted, and a 
contract was entered into by Messrs. Fox and Henderson, on the 
26th of July, 1850, to have the building completed and ready for 
opening to the public by the first day of May, 1851. Some faint 
idea of the magnitude of the work may be formed from the dimen- 
sions of the building. 



No. 126.] 7 

Its entire length was 1 ,850 feet. 

Width of nave and aisles, 450 " 

Width of transept, 72 " 

Length of do 408 " 

Height of do 110 " 

Height of nave, 64 " 

Width of do 72 " 

Width of side aisle, 1st division, 48 " 

" " 2nd do 24 " 

Height of the 1st division, 43 " 

" 2nd do 23 « 

Total area, 18 acres or 772,784 square feet. 
Total area of galleries, 217,100 " 
Total cubic contents of building 33,000,000 feet. 

Among the immense variety of objects of interest, which were 
presented from the various nations of the world, of which there 
were many of unsurpassed splendor, the palace itself was an object 
that attracted first of all, the attention of every visitor. It was 
a striking exhibition of the extensive resources of the British Em- 
pire, and was alike creditable to the designer, and to the contrac- 
tors and artisans, who aided in its erection. It was completed in 
about seven months, the first column of the building having been 
erected on the 26th day of September, 1850. Its adaption to the 
objects of the exhibition was most perfect, and the arrangement 
of its contents was made with great facility, and showed to much 
advantage, and its size was found to be fully adequate to the ar- 
ranging of the entire exhibition ; and yet the building was in the 
main fully occupied. It is to be hoped, that it may be permitted 
to remain, not only as a memorial of the exhibition itself, but of 
the talent of the designer, the extraordinary tact of the contractors, 
and of the extensive resources of the country, which in so short a 
time could produce complete such a structure. A diagram of the 
interior of the building is annexed, showing the ground floor and 
the galleries, and the portions occupied by the respective coun- 
tries that exhibited articles. 



8 [AiSSEMBLY 

It lias been well said, " it is impossible to enumerate tbe many 
and lasting benefits which must result from this great Great Ex- 
hibition, when carried to its full development. It will ever be 
referred to, as the most stupendous conception of modern times, 
when the conviction has practically prevailed, for the first time 
in the world's history, that nations do not profit by each others 
losses, but that they grow to be great and thriving by each others 
prosperity, or in other words, that each individual portion is in- 
terested in the general prosperity." 

The number of exhibitors was about 17,000, of which nearly 
one-half were British, including the colonies and dependencies of 
Great Britain. The number of exhibitors from the United States 
entered upon the catalogue was 599. The British productions 
were arranged in the western half of the building, and those of 
foreign countries in the eastern. The exhibition was divided into 
four great classes : 1st, Raw Materials; 2nd, Machinery; 3d, 
Manufactures; 4th, Sculpture and the Fine Arts. In the loca- 
tion of the respective countries, a division was made according to 
the geographical position of the countries represented ; those which 
were in the warm latitudes being placed in the center of the 
building, and the colder countries in the extremities. 

OPENING or THE EXHIBITION. 

The building was formally opened to the public on the first day 
of May, by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, with suitable and very 
imposing ceremonies. 

Her Majesty, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and Princess 
Charlotte, and the members of the court, proceeded from Buck- 
ingham Palace to the great building in Hyde Park, arriving there 
precisely at twelve. The only special preparation for the cere- 
mony, was a carpeted platform and a chair of State, placed be- 
neath a canopy, suspended midway in the transept of the Palace. 
As the Royal procession advanced, the mighty organ and the choir 
gave the national anthem. Prince Albert, at the head of the 
Royal Commissioners, next read to Her Majesty the Report of the 



No. 126.] 9' 

Exhibition proceedings, to which the Queen graciously replied. 
The Archbishop of Canterbury implored God's blessing upon the 
undertaking, and the choir sung the Hallelujah Chorus. 

A Royal procession was then formed, headed by Mr. Paxton, 
and Messrs. Fox and Henderson, followed by the official persons 
of the Exhibition, Foreign Commissioners, Foreign Ambassadors, 
Prince Albert and the Queen, with their attendants, and the 
members of the Court. The procession made the circuit of the 
nave of the building, which was filled with the visitors — tlie or- 
gans in different parts of the immense structui-e, successively 
playing at the Queen's approach. 

On her Majesty's return to the platform, the Queen declared 
" The Exhibition opened," which was announced by the firing of 
a Royal Salute on the banks of the Serpentine, near the Palace, 
and Her Majesty, the Prince, and their attendants left the build- 
ing, and returned to Buckingham Palace. 

The exhibition thus opened, was no longer a private underta- 
king, but identified with the history of the world — and it is to be 
hoped that the expectation of Prince Albert, will by the blessing 
of Divine Providence, be realized. He remarked, " the first impres- 
sion which the view of this vast collection will produce will be 
that of deep thankf ulnesss to the Almighty for the blessings which 
he has bestowed upon us already here below ! And the second, 
the conviction that these can only be realized in proportion to the 
help which we are prepared to render to each other — and therefore, 
only by peace, love and ready assistance, not only between indi- 
viduals, but between the nations of the earth." 

Soon after the opening of the Exhibition, the arrangement of 
the jurors who were to pass upon the varied contents of the pa- 
lace was completed. There were thirty classes of jurors, and 
three sub-juries, one subordinate to class No. 5, and two subordi- 
nates to class No. 10. A chairman and deputy chairman were 
appointed for each jury, and a reporter. The chairmen of the 



10 [Assembly 

juries, thirty-two in number, composed what was called the Coun- 
cil of Chairmen — to whom all the awards and recommendations 
of the juries had to be submitted for final action. The duties of 
the council of chairmen — composed of nearly an equal number 
of British subjects and foreigners, there being 17 British and 15 
foreigners — were to determine the conditions upon which, in ac- 
cordance with certain general principles previously laid down by 
the Commissioners, the different prizes should be awarded — to 
frame rules to guide the working of the juries, and to secure 
as far as practicable, uniformity in the result of their pro- 
ceedings. 

The Juries were also divided into groups — the first division, Raw 
materials, was composed of Four Juries. The second, Machinery , of 
Seven. The third Textile Fabrics- of Ten. The fourth, Miscellaneous 
Manufactures, of Mine. Before a jury could finally make its awards, 
they had to be submitted to the group of Jurors, and receive their 
favorable consideration. The group had power to confirm the 
awards or otherwise, and to investigate any disputed decision. 
Before the awards were finally disposed of, they were submitted 
to the council of chairmen — whose duty it was to see that the 
regulations had been complied with. In many cases the decisions 
of separate jurors were overruled by the vote of the group, and in 
not a few instances, the decisions of the group in recommending a 
council medal, was reversed by the council of chairmen. 

The Commissioners had expressed themselves desirous that merit 
shou] d be rewarded wherever it presented itself, but anxious to avoid 
recognition of competition between individual exhibitors, they had 
decided that the prizes should consist of three medals of different 
sizes — and that these should be awarded, not as first, second, and 
third in degree, for the same class of subjects and merit, but as 
marking merit of different kinds and character. The council of 
chairmen found that it would be impossible to lay down any rules 
for the awarding of the three medals, by which the appearance at 
least in denoting different degrees of success among exhibitors of 
the same branch of production, could be avoided . They requested 



No. 126,] fl 

that one of the medals should be withdrawn — which was assented 
to by the Commissioners, and only two medals, were to be given. 
The Prize medal, or the second in size, should be conferred whenever 
a certain standard of excellence in production of workmanship had 
been attained — utility, cheapness, adaptation to particular markets, 
and other elements of merit being taken into consideration, accord- 
ing to the nature of the object ; and this medal was to be awarded by 
the Jm-ies, subject to confirmation by the groups. As it regarded the 
Larger Medal^ the conditions of the award required, were "some im- 
portant novelty of invention, or application, either in material, or 
process of manufacture, or originality combined with great beauty 
of design ; but that it should not be conferred for excellence of pro- 
duction or workmanship alone, however eminent ; and it was further 
suggested that this medal should be awarded by the council of chair- 
men, on the recommendation of a Jury supported by its group." 
These were the general principles by which the Juries were to be 
governed — but they did not give entire satisfaction — and in carrying 
them out instances occurred in which they were not in all respects 
fully complied with. This was scarcely to be avoided, in some in- 
stances, where the lines between the larger medal and the prize 
medal came very near each other. As a substitute for the third 
medal, the jurors were authorised to make Honorable Mention of such 
articles as were deemed worthy of special notice, though not possess- 
ing the standard of excellence required for the Prize Medal. 

Each Jury was superintended by a chairman, appointed by the 
Commissioners, from the Jury, and a deputy chairman and re- 
porter selected by the Jurors themselves. Each group of Juries 
received the assistance of a deputy commissioner and of a special 
commissioner to record the proceedings, to furnish information 
respecting the arrangements of the exhibition, and otherwise to 
facilitate the labors of the Juries composing the group. The sep- 
arate Juries also kept a record of all their proceedings. The 
Juries were instructed to award prizes without reference to 
the country of the exhibitors, the exhibition being considered, in 
this respect, as recognizing no distmcticn of nations. The number 



12 [Assembly 

of Jurors assigned to the United States was twenty-one, leaving 
this country unrepresented on nine of the Juries and sub-Juries. 

It will be perceived from this brief history of the arrangements 
made for the examination of the articles exhibited, that much 
care was exercised by the Commissioners, in order to secure a 
complete examination of the great variety of articles on exhibi- 
tion. The requirements for a review of the decision of the sepa- 
rate juries by their respective groups, and those of the groups by 
the council of chairmen, were calculated to bring under review 
the various articles exhibited from the different nations repre- 
sented. It would be too much to say, that no articles were over- 
looked, but I think I am justified in saying, that there were com- 
paratively very few articles but what received an examination. 

As regards the exhibition from the United States, every effort 
was made to bring each article under the supervision of the 
Jurors. Mr. Dodge, while the acting commissioner, addressed a 
request to each Jury in relation to the articles before them, and I 
did the same in respect to the articles from this State, and was as- 
sured by some member of each of the respective Juries, that the 
articles had been examined. 

I deem, it due to the gentlemen comprising the Juries, who were 
generally selected by their respective governments, or authorized 
representatives with much care, and who were men of standing in 
their respective countries, to state, that an earnest desire was man- 
ifested to do justice to the exhibitors. The English Jurors, who 
composed at least one-half of the whole number, were selected 
with reference to tlie class of articles upon which they were to pass, 
as being conversant with them, and they certainly evinced, so far as 
I had the opportunity of ascertaining, a desire and readiness to 
examine carefully the contributions before them, and to ascertain 
the facts in each case, and they yielded to evidence in relation 
to the merits of articles examined, where evidence was given, with 
a manliness that certainly did them great credit. Having had an 
opportunity, not only as a Juror upon an important class, " Agri- 



No. 126.] 151 

cultural Implements and Machinery," but also as having been 
called before most of the other classes of Jurors, when they ex- 
amined the articles in the United States Department, I think I can 
speak from opportunities of observation, that gave me facilities 
certainly equal to others for ascertaining the manner in which the 
Jurors discharged their important and very onerous and perplex- 
ing duties. I have considered it proper to make these remarks, 
because it had been suggested that there was great danger to be 
apprehended in reference to the awards ; and since the awards 
have been announced, many complaints have been made, as ap- 
pears from the Foreign Journals. Whatever ground of complaint 
there may be in regard to the articles in the British department, 
of which I am not competent to form an opinion — ^so far as this 
country is concerned, although articles have been omitted, which 
in my opinion and in that of others of the Jurors from this country, 
should have received prizes, and some in a higher class than they 
did receive ; still, I think it will be found, that as a whole, the 
awards, to this country, are in the highest degree creditable to 
our exhibitors, considering the circumstances under which the 
articles from this country were prepared. 

It should be borne in mind that the exhibitors from this coun- 
try were placed in a very different position from any other foreign 
country. The exhibition from the United States was made by the 
exhibitors themselves, withaut aid or assistance, in their preparation, 
from the government, and although many have complained of this 
want of apparent interest on the part of the government in the 
objects of the exhibition, it is not by any means certain but that 
the influence of our exhibition has been far better upon the world, 
has more powerfully demonstrated the peculiar advantages of our 
free institutions, in the development of the energies of the people, 
than could have been done if the government had made a large 
appropriation for the purpose of preparing articles specially for 
the exhibition. Our exhibition was made by our citizens them- 
selves, and showed their enterprize, their energy, their skill and 
ingenuity ; and when this was known, it was a matter of surprise to 
foreigners that we exhibited as much as \ve did. The character 



14 [Assembly 

of our articles were such as to show to the world that we worked 
for the great masses, not for the luxurious and privileged few. 

In articles of utility and comfort, and for the advantage of the 
middling classes, who are the great producers of the world, as 
distinguished from the nobility and gentry, there was a very marked 
difference between the exhibition of our citizens and all the other 
countries. An English writer, in speaking of the difference 
between their contributions and those of continental nations, says : 
^' In those productions that imply what would here be considered, 
and truly so, a waste of labor, the utility of the article bearing 
no proportion whatever to the time spent upon it, and which only 
shows the degradation of the countries in which they are produced, 
as indicating at once the almost senseless luxuriousness of the 
rich, who must be the purchasers, and the starvation wages which 
the citizens must be brought to before such articles could be pro- 
duced at all 5 in these productions we are unquestionably sur- 
passed." 

These remarks apply with much more justice to the exhibition 
from this country, as compared with the continental and eastern ex- 
hibitors, and with a very considerable portion of the English exhi- 
bition also. There was nothing from this country to compete with 
those splendid articles, designed only to minister to human pride, 
which composed so large a portion of the exhibition ; as an American 
I rejoiced that this was so ; and it will be, in my opinion, a sad day 
for our country when articles of this character shall attain a 
preeminence here, over the useful and necessary, as they do in the 
Old World. The condition of the laboring classes who perform 
the work is far different from that of our own population, and I 
trust the day may never arrive when we shall substitute for the 
intelligent, free and virtuous population of our country, the ignor- 
ant, vicious and degraded operatives of the countries across the 
Atlantic. 

Our exhibition was designed to show, as it did, that In this 
country "genius, industry and energy find no barriers to their 



No. 126.] IB 

career." The niunber of inventions exhibited which were calcu- 
lated to reduce the cost of production in agriculture, manufactures 
and the mechanic arts, was in the highest degree creditable to us, 
and elicited from distinguished sources in Great Britain the admis- 
sion that to " the department of American ' notions' " they owed 
" the most important contributions to their industrial system," and 
after the exhibition was closed, and its advantages to the English na- 
tion w^ere being summed up, the following admission, in regard to our 
contribution, was made in their leading joui'nal : " Great Britain 
has received more useful ideas, and more ingenious inventions from 
the United States, through the exhibition, than from all other sources. 

What higher tribute could be paid to the character of our arti- 
cles, as claimed by those who knew and appreciated their value, 
than this — especially from the admission, that " more useful ideas^^ 
were received through us than from all other sources. Thus 
showing what every unprejudiced mind must, w^e think, admit — 
the great advantages which our free and liberal institutions afford 
for the development of the powers of the human mind. 

In the early part of the Exhibition, the U. S. Department was 
the subject of much invidious remark, and our contributions were 
considered as far behind the times. Located in the buildings as 
we were, adjacent to France, Russia and Austria, there was indeed 
a striking difference in the appearance of the contributions from 
the different countries. While that from the United States was 
mainly of a character of utility in the Implement and Machinery 
department, and of the productions of the soil, the others consist- 
ed of the most costly articles, wrought with exquisite taste, silks, 
statuary, diamonds, jewelry, &c., which attracted the eye and 
called forth the warmest encomiums. During the first three 
weeks, while the admissions comprised only the w^ealthy classes, 
the United States Department was hastily passed over — a glance 
given, an inquiry made at the implements, a remark occasionally, 
" These may do for a new country, but w^ould not answer in Eng- 
land — unless our mechanics have the altering of them, &c.," 
was the principal notice which was given them. In answer 



16 [Assembly 

to these remarks upon our implements — the reply was frequent- 
ly given that no '^ English mechanic'^'' would have the privi- 
lege of practising upon our implements, until they were tried, and 
we had the opportunity of showing what our implements could 
perform. It was not a very pleasant position, to be met with re- 
marks similar to these, day after day for several weeks. As the 
jurors, however, began to make their examinations, and as exhi- 
bitors and others interested in the articles on exhibition were called 
upon to explain to intelligent and practical men, what were the 
properties claimed for our articles, more interest was manifested 
in our department. 

AWARDS. 

The whole number of Awards, Council and Prize medals, and 
Honorable Mentions was 5,084 — of which the United Kingdom 
received 2,039 ; Foreign countries, 2,896 j the United States, 159. 

Raw Materials — Classes 1 to 4. 

British. Foreign. U. S. Total. 

Council Medals, 6 15 1 22 

Prize Medals, 125 399 38 562 

Honorable Mentions, 131 510 25 666 1,250 

Machines, Implements, &c. — Classes 5 to 10. 

Council Medals, 52 33 3 88 

Prize Medals, 301 166 25 492 

Honorable Mentions, 51 105 9 165 745 

Textile Fabrics. — Classes 11 to 20. 

Council Medals, 1 2 3 

Prize Medals, 337 483 15 835 

Honorable Mentions, 185 265 12 462 1 ,300 

Metallic and Vitreous Manufactures. — Classes 21 to 25. 

Council Medals, 14 20 1 35 

Prize Medals, 312 202 12 526 

Honorable Mentions, 208 197 2 407 968 



No. 126.] 17 

Miscellaneous Manufactures. — Classes 26 to 29. 

British. Foreign. U. S. Total. 

Council Medals, 4 9 1 14 

Prize Medals, 142 221 11 374 

Honorable Mention, 100 151 3 254 642 

Fine Arts. — Class 3d. 

Council Medals, 2 2 4 

Prize Medals, 27 59 1 87 

Honorable Mention, 41 47 88 

179 

5084 



The number of exhibitors in the U. S. Department was 599 ; 
prizes 1 59 — ^being a fraction over one to every four, while in the 
United Kingdom the No. of exhibitors Avas about 9,086 — prizes 
2,039, or one to every 4 J exhibitors. We have, in this, an evidence 
of the attention which was given by the Jurors to the articles on 
exhibition from this country, as well as an appreciation of their 
merit. 

The number of Medals and Honorable Mentions which were 
awarded to exhibitors from this State was forty-four. A list of 
the articles, which were accepted by the local committee of this 
State, and approved by the central authority at Washington, ac- 
companies this report. 

EXHIBITION. 

In my remarks upon the various departments of the exhibition, 
my limits will only allow me to give a rapid, and very brief sketch, 
even of those articles that appear to me worthy of special notice. 
I shall, of course, pass by many, that to others may have appeared 
of more importance than those to which I may allude. I shall 
take up the various classes in the order in which they were 
awarded by the Juries. In the order of the Commissioners, the 
first department (A) was Raw Materials, divided into four classes 

B.— 1852. 



18 [Assembly 

1st. Mining, &c., and Mineral products. 
2d. Chemical and Pharmaceutical products. 
3d. Substances used as Food. 

4th. Vegetable and animal substances chiefly used as manufac- 
tures, as Implements, or for Ornaments. 

Of the first of these classes, mining and mineral products, the 
exhibition from Great Britain, was of the highest interest, proba- 
bly as perfect as any department of the exhibition, and far exceed- 
ed, in extent, the contributions from all the other countries. The 
annual value of the mineral products of Great Britain alone, is 
said to be, at this time, "independently of the cost of coinage or 
any manufacturing process, not less than twenty-five millions 
sterling ;" nearly 125,000,000 dollars. The most important of 
the mineral products of this country is coal. 

There are eleven principal coal fields in Great Britain, contain- 
ing an area of 12,000 square miles — producing, annually, 32,000,- 
000 tons, valued, at the place of consumption, at 18,000,000 
sterling, equal to about 88,000,000 of dollars. Of these various 
deposits, there were samples exhibited, many of them of immense 
size. Models of several mines were exhibited, with the machinery 
for working and raising the coal, illustrating, fully, the whole 
process. 

Coal was exhibited from Belgium, France, New Brunswick, 
India, New South Wales, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Portugal, 
Spain, United States, Van Diemans Land, Zollverein. There was 
but a small exhibition from the United States. From Pennsylvania 
very fine samples of anthracite were shown, and several specimens 
of bitumenous coal. 



No. 12G.] 19 

The extent of the coal fields of the different countries where 
coal is found, is estimated as follows : 

Square milep. 

British Islands, 12,000 

France, 2,000 

Belgium, 520 

Spain, 4,000 

Prussia, 1,200 

Bohemia, 1,000 

United States, 113,000 

British North America, 18,000 

It will be seen from the above statement, that the deposit of 
coal in this country far exceeds that of the residue of the world, 
so far as discoveries have been made. That in these coal forma- 
tions a mine of wealth to our country is contained, is obvious to 
the most cacual observer. 

Much of the machinery on exhibition in this class, was worthy 
of careful study by those in our country interested in the mining 
of coal. Among the most valuable of the inventions in this class, 
was one for washing and purifying coals, by Berard & Co., of 
France, to which a Council Medal was awarded. It would be in- 
teresting to dwell on this subject, but the limits of this report 
forbid it. 

There was a large display of lead ores, and lead in various stages 
of preparation, with the machinery in use at the mines to carry on 
the various operations, until it is prepared for market. There 
was but one sample exhibited from the United States, which was 
from Missouri. 

A very large share of the exhibitors in this division were from 
Great Britain. And among them, the Duke of Buccleugh was 
the largest, whose models of machinery for separating pure silver 
from the lead ore was very complete. 



20 [Assembly 

Of iron ore and preparations from ore, there was a large display 
froDi various countries. From the United States there were a num- 
ber of samples both of ores and iron and steel. Those from the 
Essex county mine, in our own State, were very superior. Sam 
pies exhibited by A. J. Rousseau, of Troy, were remarkably fine. 
A Prize medal was awarded to the Adirondack Manufacturing 
Co. of this State, for steel and iron, manufactured from the Essex 
ore. This company had on exhibition some excellent specimens 
of their manufacture, which attracted much attention. The ore 
of this company has peculiar and valuable qualities for the pro- 
duction of iron. The adaptation of the bar iron, for making cast 
steel, is ascertained to be equal to any, not excepting the celebra- 
ted brand of Swedish iron. Cast steel, of a quality decidedly supe- 
rior to any other now in use, and better than that from the 
bar iron, made from the same metal, can, it is stated, be produced 
from the pig metal direct, by a simple process, costing only a small 
amount per ton more to bring into the state of " blister sted^'' than 
it costs to bring bar iron into that state. 

The show of Gold and Silver ore was not very extensive. Two 
exhibitions from the United States, one from Virginia and the 
other from California. In the English departments, some very 
choice specimens of California gold were exhibited. 

Sweden. — Some of the celebrated steel iron, and tough iron from 
Sweden was exhibited, and the magnetic ores from which it was 
made. Its peculiar properties are attributed to the ore and the 
manner of its manufacture, by the use of charcoal and wood in the 
smelting process. 

Copper ore was exhibited, very largely from Great Britain. 
Several exhibitors from Spain. From the United States, a mass 
of native copper, the largest in the exhibition, weighing 2,544 lbs., 
from the N. W. Mine of Lake Superior, was shown by Dr. Feutch 
wanger, N. Y. 



No. 126.] 21 

The exhibition of Tin was not very extensive ; LeRoy & Co., of 
New- York, sent over quite late in the season, and after the Jurors 
had completed their awards, so that it could not receive notice 
from them ; a sample of tin pipe in continuous length, produced 
by hydraulic pressure. This is believed to have been its first 
successful application to this metal. The cost is such as to ren- 
der their general introduction practicable. It is said to be much 
superior to lead pipe ; stronger, lighter, less likely to get bruised, 
and will preserve the water and other fluids much purer. This 
attracted very marked notice among mechanics, and it is undoubt- 
edly a very valuable invention, and one that will prove of great 
service. 

A gentleman from Scotland, very extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of lead pipes, examined them with great care and 
informed me that this was a desideratum in the manufacture of 
tin pipes, which he had endeavored for years to accomplish but 
without success. 

There was a very extensive display of minerals and mineral 
ores exhibited ; Great Britain, Austria, Spain and the Zollverein 
being much the largest contributors. 

Gov. Collyer, of Alabama, forwarded a collection of minerals, 
made under his direction, illustrating the mineral wealth of that 
State, Dr. Feutchwanger, of New- York, had on exhibition a very 
large collection of minerals, including ore of iron, copper, zinc, 
lead, &c. The New Jersey Mining Company had a specimen of 
zinc ore, red-oxide of zinc, weighing 16,400 lbs., taken from a 
mine in Sussex county, New- Jersey, and it attracted much notice. 
The zinc ore occurs in white crystalline or altered lime-stone ; it 
is a regular formed vien or stratum, with an inclination or dip of 
about 80 degrees, and is several feet thick at the surface or out 
crop. No estimate can be put upon the future value of this mine, 
as the ore is richer and purer than any known in the world ; it is 
utterly inexhaustible, millions of tons of ore being in sight above 



33 [Assembly 

» • » • 
water level, which, to be mined, require hardly any other means 

than quarrying. 

The massive sample of this ore was got out accidentally in the 
ordinary course of mining, at a single blast, from near the surface, 
on the brow of the range of hills in which the vein out-crops. 
The mine was opened only last spring, and with a small force, 
nearly 3,000 tons of ore were got out and brought down to the 
works of the New Jersey Exploring and Mining Company, which 
are situated on tide water, a few miles from New- York, The 
Morris canal furnishes ready and cheap transportation for the ore 
generally ; but being closed by ice last season before it was deter- 
mined to send this large sample to the great exhibition, unusual 
means had to be adopted to get it to New-York, at an expense of 
about 1 ,000 dollars. No means of moving a mass of such immense 
weight being at hand at the mines, a truck of the largest size was 
sent lor the purpose from New- York. The first attempt failed, 
from want of proper apparatus, and the truck returned. A second 
truck, fitted out completely for the service, was then dispatched, 
the company having determined to send this fine sample of ore to 
the exhibition at any cost. The task was one of greater difiiculty 
than may be imagined, for within twenty miles from the mines 
three high ranges of mountains were to be crossed ; it was mid- 
winter and the roads were bad, and in some places quite precipi- 
tous. Heavy teams of horses and oxen were required to draw the 
truck up the mountains, and, in descending, it had to be held back 
by means of strong block and tackle rigging, fastened to the trees 
on the roadside. Being thus transported over the mountains a 
distance of twenty miles the ore reached the town of Dover, the ter- 
minus of the Morris and Essex railway, upon which it was brought 
to the city of New- York, a distance of 40 miles. Here it was 
again placed on the track and taken to the Navy Yard at Brooklyn 
where it was shipped on board the United States frigate St. Law- 
rence. Having been landed safely at Southampton, it was brought 
to London by rail, without charge, through the very liberal arrange- 
ments of the citizens of that town in regard to articles intended 
for exhibition from the United States. 



No. 126.] 23 

It was a matter of great regret that a collection of minerals 
from this State, illustrating our whole system, was not exhibited. 
Inquiries were frequently made on the subject by distinguished 
foreigners who, having read the reports of our Geologists, felt a 
very great interest in examining a complete exhibition of the 
Geological formation of New- York, which is more perfect than 
any otlier portion of the world. An effort was made by the com- 
mittee from this State to procure from the State Cabinet a collec- 
tion for the purpose of exhibition, but as there w^ere not duplicate 
specimens in the Cabinet to complete the series, it could not be 
done. 

Of mineral paint there were two exhibitions from this State : 
W. Blake's, Ohio paint, and Mott's mineral paint from Lansing- 
burgh. Blake's paint is in very extensive use in Great Britain and 
also upon the Continent ; it is found to be very valuable for a first 
coat for coach painting and the sales are very large. The other 
vai'iety has not been introduced there. 

Class 2. Chemical and Pharmaceutical products. — The exhibi- 
tion of this class was not large ; France and the Zollverein having 
the largest number of exhibitors. There was only three from the 
United States. A Prize Medal was awarded to Power and Weight- 
man, of Philadelphia, for some very superior chemical prepara- 
tions. 

Class 3. Substances used for food. — This w^as a very interest- 
ing and instructive department of the exhibition, in fact one that 
as much illustrated the importance and advantage of this great 
gathering of productions from all nations as any other portion of 
the exhibition. The substances presented in this class, familiar to 
every one, attracted the attention of the great mass of those who 
visited the exhibition. The advantages resulting from this bring- 
ing together the products of the world, can scarcely be over esti- 
mated. It was very interesting to trace the character of the 
various kinds of grain: wheat, oats, barley, &;c., as they were 
affected by the cKmate and soil, and different circumstances under 



24 [Assembly 

wliicli each were grown, and it would be interesting to trace out 

these differences did the limits of this report permit. 

« 

The opportunity of exchanging products, which was very exten- 
sively embraced, and by which new varieties of grains and seeds 
will be introduced into all the countries represented at the exhi- 
bition, will result in great and permanent good. 

I received from the French Department, through L. Vilmorin, 
of Paris, a collection of Wheats from Algeira, consisting of six- 
teen varieties, one of which was the indigenous grain of the coun- 
try, which has the husks growing over nearly the whole of the 
haad of the grain. 

From J. deNottbect, Imperial Russian Commissioner, there have 
been received the following described grains : 

1. Crop of 1851. Winter rye, from model farm, near Lipetzk, 

Province of Tamboflf. 
Wheat, from Oural Steppes, 
do called '' Kolous'' from Bessarabia, 
do called "Bielotourka," from Noro- 
Russia. 
Buckwheat, from Province of Tchernigoff. 
Millet, from farm of Harkoff. 
Linseed, from Province of Pskoff". 
Rye, from Province of Olonetz. 

From England some very choice winter wheat called " Chid- 
ham Wheat," same as exhibited by His Royal Highness, Prince 
Albert, grown upon the Royal farm, Windsor — and from Charl- 
wood & Cummings, London, 47 varieties of grain and seeds have 
been received. 

Samples of these grains will be distributed among our farmers 
for trial, and the results ascertained. Returns of grain and seeds 
have been made to France and will be to Russia. 



2. 


1850. 


3. 


1851. 


4. 


1851. 


5. 


1851. 


6. 


1851. 


7. 


1851. 


8. 


1851. 



No. 126.] 25 

A full collection was promised from Scotland, which will be 
received during the season. Samples of those received Avill be 
found at the Agricultural Rooms. 

Samples of Macaroni and Italian pastes, and prepared flour, was 
exhibited, manufactured from the hard-wheats^ wliich are best adap- 
ted to the manufacture, containing more gluten than the soft wheats. 

Among the objects of instruction connected with this depart- 
ment, was an arrangement of agricultural soils, prepared Geolo- 
gically from the tertiary to the primary formations, being the 
abrasions from rocks. In connection with these, were the mine- 
rals used as fertilizers, such as phosphate, sulphate, carbonate of 
lime, magnesia, alumina, &:c., and specimens of grain grown; the re- 
sult of an admixture of fertilizing earths, on some very poor lands, 
illustrative of the mineral collection. The products which had 
been secured by this judicious admixture of fertilizing earth upon 
this previously barren soil, was very remarkable, and it was a 
lesson to many an agriculturist who examined this collection, 
that impressed most deeply the importance of that intelligence 
which would enable the farmer to avail himself of the benefits 
which science confers upon this great interest of the world. 

In connection with this subject, I would remark, that we have in 
this State one of the richest and most valuable deposits of Phos- 
phate of Lime, which has as yet been found. It is at Crown Point, 
Essex Co. There are deposits in Essex county a few miles from 
the Lake, in connection with the Iron mines, that are very rich in 
the Phosphate, and which doubtless will be brought into market, 
whenever the demand is sufficient to cause the deposits to be 
opened and prepared for use. At this time, there is no prepara- 
tion exciting more attention in England than the Phosphate 
of Lime. Its effects upon the Turnip crop, the great source of 
England's agricultural wealth, causes an immense demand for it, 
and arrangements have been made for the sale of the American 
Phosphate in England. A very natural inquiry from the use of 
it in England is, may it not become as advantageous to our own 



26 [Assembly 

agriculture as to theirs 1 That it will prove so, I have no doubt, 
and I trust early efforts will be made to introduce it to the notice 
of our farmers. During the past season, several experiments have 
been made with it on Indian Corn, Cabbage, Melons, Tomatoes, 
&c., and with results as satisfactory as any that have been made 
in England. Havmg received a sample of our Phosphate during 
the exhibition, I presented it to the Duke of Richmond, President 
of the Royal Agricultural Society, with a request that it might be 
analyzed. 

The correspondence and analysis are annexed : 

Royal Jigricultural Society^ July ^20th. 
American Phosphate of Lime. — The Duke of Richmond for- 
warded to the Council a specimen of American phosphate of lime, 
received from Mr. Johnson, along with the following letter : 

JVo. 14, Bury Street, St. Jameses, July 9, 1851. 
j" I have the honor to present to your Grace, for the Royal Ag. 
Society, a sample of phosphate of lime, received by me by a late 
steamer from the United States. This specimen is from a deposit 
on the banks of Lake Champlain, in the town of Crown Point, 
Essex county, N. Y. The vein of pure phosphate is from two to 
eight feet wide ; and a shaft has been sunk between twenty-five 
and thirty feet and the vein continues pure, and is a true vein, 
having its regular walls. It has been uncovered for several hun- 
dred ieet, I understand, and there is an abundant supply for all 
time to come. It has been analyzed in the United States, and 
contains, I am informed, from 80 to 90 per cent, of phosphate of 
lime. It is found in a trap-dyke formation, which contains a 
portion of iron and alumina. It has been applied to crops in the 
United States and has proved beneficial and marked by excellent 
effects. An application was made upon wheat last autumn. It 
was prepared with 20 lbs. of sulphuric acid, with an equal quanti- 
ty of water, and 100 lbs. of the phosphate of lime. The wheat 
upon which it was applied presented a manifest improvement over 
the other portions of the field. It had a darker green with a 



No. 126.] 27 

strong growth of leaves and much more vigor, and continues still 
to nianilest the same improvement. I trust it will be analyzed by 
the excellent chemist of youi* society, Professor Way, and the 
result communicated to the society; and should it be found val- 
uable, (as I believe it to be,) I shall take groat pleasure (in behalf 
of Messrs. Emmons and Hammond, the proprietors of the mine,) 
in introducing it into this country, at a price which will bring it 
within the reach of all the agriculturists of Great Britain. 
B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary, 

JS\v)- York State Jlgriculturul Society P 

The council received this communication with their best thanks 
and referred the specimens to the chemical investigation of Pro- 
fessor Way, the consulting chemist of the society, who made the 
following report upon the subject : 

August 20th, 1851. 
" The specimen transmitted to me for examination was a mass 
of perhaps 10 or 12 lbs. weight, and of tolerable uniform character 
throughout. When broken it exhibited an uneven fracture, of a 
dull green hue, interspersed with lines of a chocolate color. Lay- 
ers of quartz intersected it in various directions, and the outlines, 
or casts of shells, were in places tolerably numerous, (query.) 
The specific gravity of the mineral is 3-02. For the analysis, 
several pounds of the mineral, taken from all parts of the speci- 
men, were broken up and reduced to powder, so that a fair aver- 
age result might be obtained. The composition, in 100 parts, was 
found to be as follows. 

Percentage Composition 
when Dried. 

Bituminous matter, and combined 

water, expelled at a red heat, -69 

Matter insoluble in acids, consist- 
ing chiefly of sand, 16-70 

Silica, soluble in acids, -65 



28 [Assembly 

Phosphoric acid, mean of four de- 
terminations, 20-50, 30-33, 

29-77 and 31-23, 30 -20=62-27 Bone earth Phos- 

Lime, 40-10 phate. 

Peroxide of iron, 6-47 

Magnesia, 1-08 

Chloride of sodium, -08 

Soda, -20 

Potash, -25 

Sulphuric acid, trace. 

Fluorine, 2-41 

Loss, 1-17 

100-00 

As the coprolites of the crag formation contain, on an average, 
phosphoric acid equal to about 56 per cent of bone-earth phos- 
phate, and as the objectionable admixture of carbonite of lime 
with them, reduces the effective strength of sulphuric acid with 
which they are treated, for manure, is about counterbalanced by 
the equally objectionable existence of fluoride of calcium, in the 
New- York mineral, I should estimate the commercial value of 
the latter, as compared with our own mineral sources of phosphate 
of lime, in the relation of their relative proportions of phosphate 
of lime, which, practically speaking, are very nearly the same. 

"J. THOMAS WAY." 

Not long after my return I received a letter from a gentleman 
connected with some of the leading establishments in Great Britain, 
for preparing special manures, in relation to this Phosphate, in 
which he stated that he was prepared to make an offer for the 
whole products of the Crown Point Mine, provided the quality 
should prove equal to that analyzed by Professor Way. This 
shows with what interest this matter is viewed abroad, and should 
lead us here to appreciate the value of our own mineral deposits 
for the purpose of improving our agriculture. It is proper to 
remark that the average of the deposit, so far as it has been ex- 



No. 126.] 29 

amined, lias given a higiier per centage of phosphate than is shown 
by the analysis of Professor Way. Admitting it to be, however, 
only equal to that analysis, its qualities are of such a character as 
to secure, within three months after the analysis is published in 
England, an ofter for the whole deposit for use on a foreign soil. 

The most complete contribution to this department was from 
Messrs. Peter Lawson & Son, of Edinburgh, seeds-men to the High- 
laud and Agricultui-al Society of Scotland. Their collection was 
very extensive, and neatly arranged j the plants, grain, vegetables, 
&c. named, and complete specimens of all the grasses. Wheat, Oats, 
Barley, &c., on exhibition. Mr. Lawson's specimens were ar- 
ranged — 1 . Plants cultivated for their farinaceous seed, together 
with their straw or haulm. Complete specimens are shown in the 
straw, as taken from the field, with samples of the seed, with the 
flour manufactured from it. In this division were shown one hun- 
dred and seventy-nine sorts of Wheat, forty -two of Barley, fifty- 
three of Oats, sixty-foiu" of Peas, twenty-five of Beans, and of 
other plants in equal numbers, forming in variety and extent such 
a collection as, it is presumed, cannot be elsewhere seen. 2. Plants 
cultivated for the herbage and flower, including clovers, the vari- 
ous grasses, with samples of the seeds and plants. This was a 
very interesting and useful division. The number of grasses cul- 
tivated in Great Britain is very great, adapted to every variety 
of soil, climate and use. Mixtures for pasture, for the fattening 
animal, for the dairy^ for sheep, &c., are given, and thus the vari- 
eties, best adapted to each purpose, are always to be had, mixed 
in the proper proportions. 3. Plants cultivated chiefly for their 
roots, such as turnips, carrots, parsnips, beets, &;c. Specimens of 
the bulbs, dried leaves and seeds, with very fine colored preparations 
in wax were given. The extent to which the cultivation of roots 
is carried in Great Britain is surprising. Its importance, however, 
to the agriculture of the country, can scarcely be overestimated. 
That it has been one of the many improvements which has con- 
tributed to the great advance which has been made in the agricul- 
ture of the Kingdom, is apparent, — and that attention to the more 
general introduction of a like system in this country, so far as it 



30 [Assembly 

may be applicable, would be of very great advantage in improving 
our soils, in affording increased facilities for fattening animals, 
cannot, I think, admit of a serious doubt. 4. Plants cultivated 
for their use in the arts, manufactures and various economical pur- 
poses, such as flax, hemp, &c. 5. Plants cultivated for mechanical 
purposes. 6. Plants cultivated for their timber. Specimens of 
wood were given ; the dried leaves ; samples of the seeds and 
fruit as well as the young plants, as grown in the nursery. The 
seed of the plant is first shown, then the plant itself in flower, 
dried and mounted ; and then that particular portion of it, as root, 
leaves or flower, in which its useful properties are innate. Speci- 
mens illustrative of their uses are also exhibited, as worsted dyed 
with a particular plant ; flax in its various stages, linen, kc. All 
the plants grown in Scotland, for their timber are shown, first the 
seed, then a twig, showing leaf and blossom of the tree, while the 
structure of the timber is shown by transverse and longitudinal sec- 
tions in a rough and polished state. The scientific and popular 
name is attached. 

Rape Seed. — This is extensively grown in Europe, and is im- 
ported into England ; rape seed is crushed, and the rape seed oil 
cake is much used for feeding purposes, being nearly equal to oil 
cake, and its remedy for the ravages of the wire- worm when it is 
used upon the land as a fertilizer, which is destroyed by it, renders 
it very useful. It can be easily and profitably raised, yielding as 
much per acre as wheat. 

In the catalogue of the Messrs. Lawsons, accompanying their 
exhibition, a synopsis is given of the vegetable productions of 
Scotland, in which the nature, properties, relative value, and use 
of their products are given. The Museum of the Highland Agri- 
cultural Society of Scotland, prepared and arranged by the Messrs. 
Lawsons, and which was partially represented by the one on ex- 
hibition is of the highest interest and importance. It is a place 
where all classes can find objects of instruction and amusement ; 
and where the students will have opportunities of acquiring prac- 
tically a knowledge of the value and properties of the productions 



No. 126.] 31 

of the country. It was in view of these and other consick^rations 
which might be named, that a collection for a museum in the 
agricultural department in our own State has been commenced, 
and which though in its infency, is one of no little interest, and 
the attention which it receives is the best evidence that can be 
given of its appreciation and value. 

The seedsmen to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 
Messrs. Gibbs, of Halfmoon-st., Picadilly, London, exhibited up- 
wards of five hundred samples of seeds. In this collection there 
was one of the best assortment of grasses for pasture-land that was 
exhibited, with specimens of the dried grasses accompanying the 
seed. In the United States department, a beautifully arranged 
collection of upwards of 300 varieties of indigenous plants of the 
State of New- York, arranged by Mss Mary M. C/iase^ of Chatham, 
Columbia county, N. Y., was shown, and which attracted, as 
it deserved, much attention, and was specially noticed by Her 
Majesty, in her visit to the United States Division. 

In the English department were shown some very choice sam- 
ples of wheat. A sample of Chidham wheat, grown on the Royal 
farm, shown by Prince Albert, weighing 66 § lbs. per bush., w^as re- 
raarkably fine. The heaviest wheat, shown, was a variety called 
"Lawrence's Prolixus," crystal white, weighing 67 J lbs. per bushel. 
This wheat has qualities which are considered to render it highly 
deserving of cultivation. The root is adapted to draw nourishment 
from an unusual depth in the soil, it produces a strong straw, and 
affords a prolific yield. There were several samples in the English 
department of white wheat, which weighed 66 and 67 lbs. per bush. 
A sample of wheat was shown weighing 65 lbs. 1 oz. per bushel, 
and the produce 40 bushels per acre, raised by the application of 
3 cwt. of Peruvian Guano per acre, upon a soil that had formerly 
been considered worthless. A variety of wheat called " Giant 
Straw Wheat," which had been grown for several years by the 
exhibitor, is stated to have produced 60 bushels per acre, on an 
average. Its superiority consists in the length, size and stiffness 
of the straw, and in its abundant produce. CoL LeCouteur of the 



32 [ASSDEMBLY 

Island of Jersey, exhibited a very choice collection of specimens 
of the most approved varieties of wheat, 104 in number, which 
was the most complete series of valuable wheats in the ex- 
hibition. 

Hybridization. — ^There were exhibited two cases of wheat in the 
ear and straw, showing the effects of hybridization. In some in- 
stances there was an entire change and great improvement in the 
grain. This process is the only one by which we can permanently 
alter the character of cultivated plants. The process is thus de- 
scribed by the exhibitor : " The hybridization was effected by remo- 
ving the stamens of ^ Piper's thick set' Wheat, a red variety before 
they had reached maturity, by opening each of the glumes (the husks 
or chaff ) and carefully picking out the stamens upon the point 
of a needle -, the pistils of the flower being left perfect, were a few 
days afterwards fertilized by dusting them with the pollen from 
stems of the " Hopetown" variety of white wheat, entirely dif- 
ferent from the other ; this produced a great number of varieties, 
partaking more or less of the parent stock, and from these the few 
specimens exhibited were selected. 

Wheat was exhibited from Russia, France, United States, Aus- 
tralia, Canada, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, and from nearly all the 
countries represented. The collection from Russia was quite 
extensive, and some samples excellent. The straw of the wheat 
generally was remarkably bright, and free from any appearance of 
disease. The rye was unusually fine. The arrangement of the 
products from Russia was very attractive, and displayed as much 
taste as any portion of the arrangements in this class. 

Spain. — There were some very good samples of wheat from 
Spain — and the exhibition of grain and maize was quite extensive. 
Spain possesses one of the finest climates, and has a greater range 
of vegetable productions than any other country of Europe — 
still the agriculture of the country is evidently in a very low con- 
dition. The production of wheat is barely suflSicient for the con- 
sumption at home, and very little is exported. A very choice 



No. 126.] 33 

collection of plants, indigenous to the country, consisting of 105 
varieties, were shown. 

The whole exhibition from Spain, taken together, was so limited 
in extent, that it could not but lead to reflections of what once 
were the resources of the country — and should prove a lesson to 
others to avoid the course which proved so disastrous here. "When 
it is remembered that this is the nation that once received the 
untold treasures of gold and silver from the mines of Mexico and 
Peru — sent forth the mighty Armada to conquer England — and 
stood among the first upon the roll of nations — and now is reck- 
oned among the least of the nations — and her exhibition certainly 
fails not to convince one that it must be so ; the reflection cannot 
fail to arise — why is this so 1 The abandonment of that system 
of industry, which developed, not only the energies of the people 
but also the resoui-ces of the Empire, led to the extension of com- 
merce, and increased, continually, the wealth of the Empire, in 
every direction, is doubtless the cause of the present position of 
the nation." Well will it be for others, if they are warned betimes 
and avoid the rock upon which the Drosperity of Spain was so 
fatally wrecked. 

United States. — The exhibition in tnis ciass was not large, and 
mostly from this State -, though, in point of excellence, it was equal 
to any other. 

Mr. Thomas Bell, of Westchester, received a Prize Medal for a 
very superior sample of Soule's winter wheat, which attracted 
much attention, and was highly commended by the Jurors. Mr. 
Bell exhibited four varieties of wheat, viz : Spring wheat, Soule's, 
Bald white flint, and Mediterranean — the latter as fine a sample 
of red wheat as was shown — also, Barley, Oats, Rye, Buckwheat, 
Flax seed. Millet, Clover, Grass seed and Indian corn. His collec- 
tion was very neatly arranged and much the most extensive, from 
this country, and was highly creditable to hira and to the State. 

C— 1852. 



34 [Assembly 

There was a small sample of Soule's wheat, from a crop of 63 1 
bushels per acre, weighing upwards of 63 lbs. per bushel, raised 
by Mr. William Hotchkiss, Lewiston, Niagara county, for which 
an honorable mention was given. This was the largest yield of 
wheat per acre, shown in the exhibition, for which vouchers were 
submitted to the Jury. This extraordinary crop of wheat excited 
much notice, from the fact, that a work lately published on this 
country, in England, had led some of the farmers there to expect 
that there was little danger to be apprehended from the wheat 
growers in the United States supplying the demands of the English 
market. 

Mr. S. L. Thompson of Setauket, Suffolk county, L. I., had 
a very choice sample of golden Australian wheat, weighing up- 
wards of 63 lbs. per bushel — yield 48^ bushels per acre. Mr. 
Thompson has raised during the past season, of this same variety, 
at th^ rate of 54 bushels, and upwards, per acre. 

The New-York State Agricultural Society exhibited thirty-five 
varieties of wheat, raised by General Roswell Harmon, of Wheat- 
land, Monroe county, in one season, on his own farm, very taste- 
fully arranged. To this collection a Prize Medal was awarded. 

A distinguished French gentleman, a member of the National 
Society of Agriculture of France', Mr. L. Vilmorin, who was present 
and examined it with much care, informed me that there were 
quite a number of varieties in the collection which were not 
known in England. This collection was presented to him, and in 
return he has forAvarded to the Museum of State Agricultui-al , 
Society a large number of varieties of wheat, as well as other! 
grains and seeds, which will be distributed for trial, from some! 
of which, it is hoped, we may obtain valuable additions to our] 
wheats and other grain. 

The wheat from the United States, taken together was equal in 
quality to that shown from any other country ; and its quality for 



No. 126.] 35 

flouring purposes was fully shown in the fine samples of flour 
wliicli t\Tre exhibited. 

There were from Canada West very fine samples of wheat and 
other grains exhibited. The whe<at was very superior. 

Samples of wheat from Tunis had that ricy look peculiar to a 
warm climate and the barley was very inferior, indicative of the 
locality where grown. 

Australia. — One of the finest samples of wheat on exhibition 
was raised in Australia, called the Australian wheat — it is a white 
bearded wheat, very large berry, weighing upward of C5 lbs. per 
bushel, and was pronounced b}' the jurors as one of the best on 
Exhibition. From a comparison with that of Mr. Thompson's, 
from this State, I was satisfied it was the same variety. Its intro- 
duction in this State came from a few grains that were found in 
the P. 0. at Geneva, probably from a package passing through the 
mail — which were cultivated by Mr. Yedder, formerly of Geneva. 
It proves a very valuable wheat for Long Island, is cultivated to 
some extent in Chester county, Pa. with success. The flour is not 
quite equal to our very best Genesee wheats, perhaps, but is very 
good. 

From Van Dieman's Land, some wheat was shown of very 
fine qualit}', and similar to that from Australia. 

Barley axd Oats from the United States and Canada were not 
as heavy as the samples shown from England and Scotland. Were 
the same care and attention given to the selection and change of 
seed as is practised there, my impression is that we should much 
nearer approach their standard. The greatest care is there given 
to the selection of seed and to a change — from the high to the low 
country — and this, if neglected there, will be seen in the dimin- 
ished weight of the grain. 



36 [Assembly 

Indian Corn was exhibited mainly from this country, Canada, 
Austria, Africa, and British Guinea. The maize grown in 'British 
Guinea commands a higher price in the English market than that 
from the United States, though the supply is not very extensive. 
y^hy this increased price is obtained I did not learn, but presume it 
is owing to the better condition in which it reaches the English 
market. A few samples of the Forty Days maize, raised in Eng- 
land was shown ; the varieties were not the best ; the corn, how- 
ever, was ripe. Our samples were generally very superior ; and it 
was shown in the various forms in which it is used in this coun- 
try. The Atlantic Dock Mills, N. Y., had a very extensive assort- 
ment of various preparations, prepared by J. E. Stafford's Steam 
Drying Apparatus. And the Oswego Starch Factory had a very 
superior article for culinary consumption, of great richness and 
delicacy, and extensively in use in this country. 

Mr. B. B. Kirtland, of Greenbush, N. Y., exhibited a case of 
Indian Corn, which contained 34 varieties, very tastefully arranged 
in the ear — surrounded with samples of the stalk. The various 
products of corn, as prepared for use, were shown in glass jars, 
consisting of meal, farina, starch, oil, &c., and a description of 
the varieties, methods of cultivation and preparation for use of the 
meal, &c. This case attracted much notice, and was examined 
with much interest by Her Majesty and the Royal party, when 
they visited the American Department. A Prize Medal was 
awarded to Mr. Kirtland. 

The Oswego Starch Factory received an Honorable mention for 
their fecula of maize, which was subjected to trial by the Jurors 
and others, and pronounced a very superior article. Hecker's 
Farina , N. Y., also received an Honorable Mention. All the ar- 
ticles exhibited by this firm were of great excellence, and received 
commendations. Hotchkiss & Phelps, of Ontario County, presented 
some very fine Kiln dried Indian Meal. 

The extensive and increasing use of Indian Meal, in Great Brit- 
ain causes a large demand for it, and, as its value is more appre- 



No. 1-26,] 37 

ciated among the higher classes, its use will be still more extensive. 
The agent of the Atlantic Bock Mills, had samples of the bread 
made from their best meal, daily, on exhibition, fresh from the 
bakers, and the rapidity with which the bread disappeared, gave 
immistakeable evidence that it found favor with many, Avho before, 
probably, were ignorant of its use. 

Flour. — Flour was exhibited by England, France, United States, 
Austria, Canada and Spain. There were 14 exhibitors from the U. 
S., 7 from Austria,? from England, 5 from France, &c. The quality 
of much of the fiour was very superior. Having been desired to 
go with the Jurors on their examinations, I had an opportunity 
of testing the various samples of Flour on exhibition. That from 
the United States was almost all made from Genesee wheat, and 
most of it was excellent, showing clearly the superior character 
of our wheat, as well as the excellency of our mills. Samples of 
the varieties, from which our best flour is made, were on exhibi- 
tion. A very superior article was exhibited from France, by 
Mons, Darblay, who has extensive mills near Paris. This flour 
was called " Gruaux " flour, and was considered superior to any 
on exhibition, A Council Medal w as awarded for its peculiar mode 
of manufacture. The method of manufacture, I ascertained while 
at Paris, having met Mons. Darblay there. The wheat is first 
passed through the stones, which are elevated a little, so as merely 
to loosen the hull, it is then passed through hand sieves, by 
which process the hull is separated from the berry, and the grain 
is then floured ; the head of the bolt is taken off, producing this 
extraordinary fine flour, which is used mostly for pastry and bis- 
cuit, and commands in the London market 10s. sterling, about 
§2.20 extra per sack, more than the best English flour. We have 
in this country a process invented by Mr. Bentz, of Maryland, by 
which the hull is entirely removed by machinery, and flour 
equal, if not superior to that from France, is produced. 

The Jurors were aided in their awards on flour, by Brokers from 
Mark Lane, who were furnished with samples of the various lots of 
flour, without a knowledge as to the maker ; these were examined 



38 [Assembly 

and tested, I think also by bakers, and on tlieir report, submitted 
to the Jurors, the decision was made and was such as should 
be satisfactory. Two Medals were awarded to this country, one 
to Hecker & Brother, N. Y., the other to Raymond & Schuyler, 
Westchester Co. Tlie flour was manufactured from Genesee wheat. 
The other exhibitors from this State^ were Atlantic Dock Mills, 
A. Harmon, C. J. Hill k Son, M. & H. J. Leach, J. Lathrop, H. 
Finch, each had very superior samples. The effect of climate 
upon the properties of the wheat, whether starch or gluten pre- 
dominated, and also the difference in that respect, in the varieties 
of wheat, were matters of observation among those who made care- 
ful examination of the flour on exhibition. 

In this class the exhibition of cured Beef, Hams, Maple Sugar, 
Rice, Tobacco, &c., was, to a considerable extent, from this coun- 
try, and many of the articles were of a very superior order. 
Prize Medals were awarded for Hams from Louisville and Cincin- 
nati, one parcel being the celebrated " Dufiield" Hams. 

In this class a Council Medal was awarded to Gail Borden, Jun., 
of Texas, for his Meat Biscuit, an invaluable preparation. It was 
analyzed by Professor Lyon Playfair, and its preservative qualities 
pronounced perfect, and its highly nutritive qualities were fully 
shown by the analysis. The Jurors marked their approbation of 
it, by awarding the Council Medal, after a thorough trial by them- 
selves, and the most celebrated caterers for London palates, it 
having been found to be, in all respects, what its inventor claimed 
for it. Having very frequently partaken of it prepared as soup, I 
can most heartily concur in the award which was given to it, and 
in the approbation which it received as an article of food. A 
preparation like this, is world- vride in its influence, and entitled to 
special notice. The following is Mr. Borden's description of its 
preparation : " The meat biscuit contains, in a concentrated and 
portable form, all the nutriment of meat combined with flour. It 
is easily preserved in all climates, and for a long period of time 
without change or deterioratio]i. It is not liable to heating or 
molding, to which corn in grain or flour is extremely subject, in 



No. 126.] 39 

long voyages; nor is it attacked at all by the wevil or other insects. 
In evidence of its value, as an article of food, it is used by the 
American Army, on service on oui* Southern frontier. The nature 
of the discovery consists of a new process of preserving animal 
food, by obtaining, in a concentrated form, all its nutritious por- 
tions, and by combining them with flour or vegetable meal, and 
by drying or baking the mixture in an oven, in the form of a 
biscuit or cracker. One pound of this preparation contains the 
nutriment or essence o^ five pounds of good meat." 

Preparation of Butter, preserved fresh. This is secured by be- 
ing packed insiiceak solution of Tartaric acid ; the butter is immersed 
in it, and sealed up in a glass or other vessel. Butter prepared in 
this manner in October, 1850, was opened in the Palace in July, 
entirely fresh and sweet. It could not be distinguished from 
butter newly made. The discovery is an important one, and will, 
no doubt, be made available by our dairy-men, who are preparing 
butter for California and other warm climates, as well as for resi- 
dents in our large cities, who are fond of a fresh and first rate 
article. 

Solidified Milk. — There were several exhibitors of preserved 
milk, but the one which to me seemed to be best adapted to the 
purpose, was Fadeuther's Patent, London. By this process milk 
is pui-ified, and reduced to solid form — so that one pound contains 
the equivalent of four quarts of the most pure milk : all unwhole- 
some and indigestible matters are abstracted, leaving only the pure 
and nutritious essence of new milk, from the cow. If not exposed 
to excessive damp, it will keep for several years, without changing 
in the least. On ship board, and for medicinal and domestic pur- 
poses, especially for invalids or persons who cannot digest milk 
in its gross state, it is invaluable. It is easily digestible, and highly 
and admirably adapted as food for infants. The preservation of 
the substance in question, is due to the entire expulsion, by evap- 
oration, of the watery constituents of the milk. In the absence 
of a certain quantity of water, putrefactive changes cannot proceed ; 
after being dissolved in boiling water, reproduced in the form of 



40 [Assembly 

milk, the solution will keep perfectly pure for several days. It 
has, I am informed, since tlie close of the exhibition, been intro- 
duced into this country, and it proves entirely as valuable in its 
qualities, as claimed for it by the inventor. 

Preserved Potatoes. — A preparation from the finest potatoe, con- 
taining all the flavor and wholesome properties of the vegetable in 
its best state. It will keep in any climate and its cooking is effected 
in about ten minutes -, proving a very great advantage over pota- 
toes in bulk. Its valuable qualities are certified to by Prof. Brande, 
Dr. Ure and many others, and the testimony of numerous ship 
owners and masters of vessels who have used it. This is prepared 
in London and is patented in this country. Having used this pre- 
paration I am satisfied the merits of the preparation, as an article 
of food, are equal to the commendations bestowed upon it. 

The articles of food shown from the Tropics, in considerable 
variety, were interesting. Specimens of meals from tropical 
plants w^ere shown. That from the plantain, made by drying in 
the sun and then reducing it to powder, was superior to any of 
the other. Millet, w^hich is used, as an article of food, very ex- 
tensively in tropical climates, was exhibited in several departments, 
but that from Russia, both Black and Red, was superior to any 
other. Some fine samples of rice w^ere exhibited. The Carolina 
rice from this country was awarded a Prize Medal. 

Coffee. — Fine samples were exhibited from several countries. 
An article extensively in use in England, and perhaps elsewhere, 
as a substitute for coffee, and also for the purpose of mixture with 
coffee, was shown. This was Chicory, a tap-rooted plant of the en- 
dive family, which is very readily grown, the root of which when 
dried is roasted and ground and mixed with coffee. From its me- 
dicinal qualities it is considered a valuable admixture, as it counter- 
balances the astringent effects of the coffee ; and being much cheaper, 
it finds great sale. By many, the coffee thus prepared is preferred 
to the pure coffee. It is on sale in the English coffee establish- 
ments, ground, and persons usually selected one-third chicory, 



No. 126.] 41 

two-thirds coffee, and prepared tlie mixture themselves. It doubt- 
less is, liowever, often sold with a much larger ])er centage as real 
coffee. It is nutritious and the flavor is jDleasant. The seeds are 
sown in April, in drills, and managed very much like a crop of 
carrots, care being taken to keep it entirely clean. It is gathered 
in September, tlie roots or tubers carefully washed, cut in small 
pieces, either by hand or a turnip cutter, placed in canvass bags 
and dried upon a kiln, and then disposed of to merchants, who 
prepare them, the same as the coffee berry, for use. The leaves of 
tlie plant are very largely used for dyeing ; a valuable dye-stuff 
called " Paster' or "Imitation Woad," is mostly prepared from 
the leaves ; it is very largely used by wool dyers, and is valuable 
in tlie dye-vat for fastening colors in cloth. The main supply for 
England is received from Eelgium and Germany, though it is now 
cultivated to some extent in England and Ireland. 

The exhibition of Hops from England w^as very extensive. 
The Golden hops grown in Mid Kent was superior to anything of 
the kind I have ever seen. The soil upon which this variety is 
grown, has in it an abundance of Phosphate of Lime I believe, and 
this, together with the treatment they receive, are among the 
reasons given for their superiority, and they are used for the finest 
ales. A number of other varieties of fine flavor and appearance 
were on exhibition, especially the Farnham hops. The hops 
grown in Canada and the United States, are not considered equal 
to those of Great Britain for the use of Brewers, whether owing to 
the climate, or the manner of culture and preparation, I cannot 
say, though probably each has more or less influence. They will 
not, as I was informed b}^ a Canadian brewer, whom I met in Lon- 
don, make as fine ale, as the best English hops. He having used 
the hops grown in this country and in England, seemed a compe- 
tent judge. I had designed to have visited the hop districts in 
Kent, and ascertained the particulars of their management, and 
the soils best adapted to the production of the fine varieties, and 
the peculiar process and preparation, but my time was so much oc- 
cupied that I could not accomplish it. I was told, however , that a 
porous rocky sub-soil, covered with two or three feet of good veg- 



42 [Assembly 

etable mold, was considered the best soil for liops. It is all im- 
portant, to secure a dry sub-soil. The finest hops are those which 
are picked when they are of a light yellow brown ; and when 
great care is used as to the quality of the hops, they are divided 
into three sorts, the green, not entirely ripe, the light yellow 
brown in their prime, and the dark brown which are past their 
prime. There was exhibited a drawing of a magnified view of 
the formation and growth of the hop fungus, from its earliest to 
its latest stage, which was an interesting and useful study for those 
engaged in the culture of hops. 

Oil Cake was exhibited to some extent. That from the United 
States is sold in England to a large amount, used chiefly for fatten- 
ing animals, from two to four pounds being broken daily with 
their food. There was nothing peculiar in the quality of that 
exhibited. 

There was a good collection of raw materials, and products 
shown from Greece, evincing an improving state of Agriculture. 
From Egypt there was a very good exhibition of Rice, Wheat, In- 
dian Corn, Barley, Beans and Lentils. 

In this class, Tobacco was exhibited more extensively from 
this country than any other, and mostly the product of Virginia 
and Maryland. There were samples from Great Britain, Algeria, 
Belgium, Eussia, Spain, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, &c. The manufac- 
tured tobacco from this country, that from Richmond especially, was 
adjudged superior to any other, and the Prize Medal was awarded. 
Segars were shown of very extraordinary excellence from several 
of the nations exhibiting. 

Teas from China far superior to anything I have ever witnessed, 
showing one thing at least, that the great majority of what is 
called and used as tea, in this country, never finds a place in the 
house of the celestials. The difference in all the varieties was so 
apparent, that no one could hesitate for a moment, in believing, 
that a very large proportion of what is imported into this country 



N'o. 126.] 43 

and Great Britain, is of a very inferior quality, or is adulterated 
after its arrival. The edible birds' nests, of Avhicli we have often 
heard, were exhibited in the Chinese department. There was 
one exhibition of Tea in the India department. 

Sugar was on exhibition from Great Britain, United States, Spain, 
British Guinea, France, Belgium, kc. There were many very fine 
specimens from the Sugar Cane. Beet Sugar was also exhibited 
quite extensively from France, Austria, Russia, Zollverein, Eng- 
land ; and no less than two Council Medals, and ten Prize Medals, 
were awarded for Beet Sugar, the quality equal to the Cane Sugar. 
Two Council Medals were awarded to France, one of them for 
samples of beet sugar extracted from molasses, which was consid- 
ered as exhausted by the ordinary process. The other, produced 
by a method, the result of which is to save valuable substances 
previously lost in the manufacture, and consequently to reduce, 
materially, the price of the sugar itself. There can be little doubt, 
that the production of sugar from the beet root can be made profit- 
able, and the general introduction of the process for w^hich the 
Council Medhl was awarded, will enable its being manufactured in 
countries where the cane cannot be cultivated, at a price as low as 
the cane sugar can be afforded. Maple Sugar was exhibited from 
the United States, and Prize Medals were awarded for two samples, 
one from Vermont and one from Canada. A very superior sample 
sent by the New- York State Agricultural Society, unfortunately 
fell into hands, shortly after the exhibition opened, of some per- 
sons who, not satisfied with tasting, took the whole, and the Jurors 
were not permitted the privilege of passing upon it. It was made 
in Jefferson County, in this State, and was superior, in my opinion, 
to any other on exhibition. 

E. R. Dix, from this State, received an Honorable Mention for 
Flax, Hemp, and other products. 

Taking the exhibition in this class from the United States, as a 
whole, it was certainly creditable to our country, although not as 
large as it should have been, fully to develope our capabilities — still 



44 [Assembly 

it was sufficient in quantity and variety to show to those in attend- 
ance upon this Great Exhibition, of the Art and Industry of the 
World, that the new continent to which sucli multitudes of the 
starving of the Old World were rushing, had bread enough and to 
spare, and that from her fertile vales and hills their wants not 
only could be supplied, but a home could be furnished for them all. 

Class 4. Vegetable and animal substances^ chiefly used in 
manufactures or as implements or ornaments. > 

This was a very interesting and important class, including Cot- 
ton, Hemp, Flax, Wool, Silk, Furs, Dyes, Dye-woods, Starch, 
Gelatine, &c. The exhibitors were very numerous and from al- 
most all the countries represented in the exhibition. Raw Cotton 
was exhibited largely from the United States ; there were several 
exhibitors, and in smaller quantities, from Algeria, British Guinea, 
Russia, South Africa, China, Egypt, India, Portugal, Spain, Trini- 
dad, St. Helena, Western Africa, England, &c. There was a very 
critical examination made of the samples on exhibition, and the 
same course was adopted by the Jury as in the examination of 
flour, by calling in cotton brokers to aid the Jurors in determin- 
ing the value of the various samples on exhibition. It may readily 
be imagined that in relation to the cottons exhibited, there was 
much interest excited among the Americans and English, as to 
the result of the examinations. A strong desire was evident, in 
regard to the samples from the British possessions. The result, 
however, was most satisfactory to our Cotton growers. Ten of 
the Prize Medals were awarded to them, and only five to all the 
others. A council Medal was awarded to John Mercer, Accring- 
ton, Eng., for a process by which the fiber of Cotton is modified 
by caustic alkali, whereby the fibers become contracted and 
fulled, converting thin and coarse cloth into strong and fine ; and 
at the same time giving greatly increased and improved powers of 
receiving colors in printing and dyeing, and also in making them 
more permanent. The samples exhibited fully sustained the claims 
of the invention, and its great value to the manufacturers of cot- 
ton goods, as well as to the consumers, was most obvious, and it 



No. 126.] 45 

will doubtless attract attention in the right direction, from those 
present and who were prepared to appreciate its importance. 

Wool. — There were some very extraordinary samples exhibited. 
The finest, and for all puri)oses the most valuable of the line wools, 
probably were from Austrian Silesia. The texture and style of 
this wool was certainly ► very superior, and had all those qualities 
which, to a manufacturer, are so very important. 

There was but a small exhibition from the United States : only 
six samples on exhibition, though four others appeared upon the 
catalogue, but were not sent, they were of a character, however, 
to attract attention, and fuund much favoj; with the Jurors and 
examiners, and four prizes were awarded to American exhib- 
itors. I was with the Jury in their examinations in this depart- 
ment, and was satisfied, as I believe the Jury were, that next to 
the very best samples from Silesia, the samples from America, to 
which the Prize Medals were awarded, were equal to any 
of the fine wools. Samples from the flock of J. G. Strean, 
Washington county, Penn., for which a Prize Medal was awarded, 
(which by mistake were entered in the name of J. H. Ewing,) were 
exceedingly fine, and sustained the reputation, as a wool grower, 
which has long since been awarded him in the United States. 

^ Council Medal was awarded to Jean Louis Graux^ of France, 
for a fleece of Merino wool of great fineness and of the best qual- 
ity for combing, and possessing increased strength, brilliancy and 
fineness of fiber. He is described as the originator of this new 
and valuable quality of wool. It was certainly a very superior 
sample of Merino wool, and doubtless entitled to the encomiums 
passed upon it. It was different from the wool from the Ram- 
bouillet sheep and superior to it in the fineness of its fiber — samples 
of wool from the establishment at Rambouillet being shown in 
connection with the other wools from France. The breed of sheep 
which Mons. Graux has, will prove a valuable acquisition to this 
country, I have no doubt, in crossing with our Merinos and Saxons. 



46 [Assembly 

Australia had some very fine samples of wool. The exhibition 
from England was mainly from the sheep bred for their mutton, 
and of great variety — both as respects the length of the wool, and 
the fineness of the fiber. A few samples of Merino wool were 
shown from England. The fleece of a South-down ewe, which 
was seven years old, was shown ; had never been shorn 3 the 
wool 25 inches long ; its weight 36 lbs. ; and this was greater than 
the aggregate length and weight of wool taken from any other 
sheep in the same flock annually shorn. The owner stated in a 
notice appended to the fleece, that the animal suffered no percepti- 
ble inconvenience from this enormous fleece, during the warm 
months of the season. In the Magdeburg department, the fleece 
of a one year old, fine wooled sheep, stuffed, was shown — illustra- 
ting, fully, the value of having all parts of the body well covered 
with good wool, of uniform quality, a property so desirable to be 
secured by the breeder, and to which, it is to be regretted, far too 
little attention is paid in this country, as well as in others. In 
this specimen there seemed to be no place where wool could be grown, 
but it was covered, and with scarcely any perceptible difference in 
the quality of the wool in different parts. From Spain the speci- 
mens were not equal to the reputation which the wools of that 
country formerly enjoyed. The reason, so far as could be ascer- 
tained, is, that for several years past, there has been far less atten- 
tion given to the breeding of sheep, than was the practice at the 
commencement of the present century. Austrian Silesia has the 
best flocks, and the best managed, of the finest wooled sheep, judg- 
ing from the wool exhibited, and from the descriptions given — and 
for the Merino wool, there was no country which exhibited any 
that was equal to that of Mons. Graux, from his flock at Ferm de 
Hauchampj Commune de Javin-Court^ (Aisne.) Fine fleeces of 
Merino wool were exhibited by William Blakeslee, of this State, 
which were very excellent specimens of this variety. 

Flax. — The exhibition in this department was of a most inter- 
esting character. The question of the best methods of preparing 
the fiber for use, is exciting very great attention, not only in Eu- 
rope but in this country, and it was expected, therefore, that 



No. 120.] 47 

everything relating to the subject so far as yet developed, would 
be found in the exhibition. In this I was not disappointed. 
The show of flax, in all its stages, as prepared by tlie dillerent 
processes — the various cloths manufactured — the process of man- 
ufacturing, were all fully exhibited. There are three methods of 
preparing the fiber of the Ikx, which are attracting much attention 
at present, being deviations from the old methods which have long 
prevailed. The first of these, and which as yet is the most ap- 
proved in Ireland, is what is called Schenck's system of steeping 
flax straw in water, heated to 90 degrees — invented by Mr. Schenck, 
an American, several years since. By this process, owing to the 
elevated temperature given to the water, the fermentation neces- 
sary for the separation of the fiber from the woody matter of the 
flax straAV, is so much accelerated that the operation requires only 
about sixty hours. It was supposed that this rapidity of process 
would weaken the fiber — but from experiments made in England 
and upon the continent, it is demonstrated that not only is a better 
description of flax secured, but a larger produce obtained by the 
use of hot water, than is possible by the old, slow and uncertain 
system of rotting. There are ten establishments upon this princi- 
ple at work in Ireland. 

A second method proposes to lessen the bulk of the flax crop, 
without resorting to steeping, so as to facilitate its transit to the 
most advantageous market, by passing the straw under a common 
" breaker," and separating the fiber by any of the usual methods. 
It is stated, as prepared in this way, without steeping, the fiber is 
well adapted to the manufacture of various coarse articles, such 
as sail cloth, &c., and that by the diminution in bulk, which the 
straw experiences, it could be employed with greater facility in 
steeping, and the operation requires less time, as the water would 
act more readily upon the bruised flax. 

On trial, however, it is found that the previous partial separa- 
tion of the woody matter of the straw, instead of shortening the 
steeping process, has a decidedly opposite effect. The necessary 



48 [Assembly 

fermentation, from the removal probably of the organic compound 
of the straw, being exceedingly imperfect. 

Tlie third method of preparation, which is now exciting very 
great interest, was fully illustrated in the exhibition by the inven- 
tor, Chevalier Claussen. 



# 



It is proposed as a means, not only of facilitating the separation 
of the flax fiber for its ordinary uses, but it is strongly claimed for 
it, that it is capable of converting it into a form in which its char- 
acters are completely assimilated to cotton, and in which it may be 
spun, either in whole or in part, on the common cotton spinning 
machinery, and that it will enable the flax grower to supply with 
profit the raw material, for the use of manufacturers, at less price 
than foreign cotton can be imported. It is also claimed, that the 
raw material can be so prepared as to be advantageously mixed 
with wool for the production of cloth, while any flax refuse can 
be converted into an excellent article for the manufacture of first 
class paper at a lower price than white rags can at present be 
obtained. 

The invention is thus described by the Chevalier : 
" The principle of the invention by which flax is adapted for 
spinning upon cotton, wool or silk, independent of flax machinery, 
consists in destroying the cylindrical or tubular character of the 
fiber by means of carbonic, or other gas, the action of which splits 
the tubes into a number of ribbon-like filaments, solid in charac- 
ter and of a gravity less than cotton, the upper and under surfaces 
of which are segments of circles, and the sides of which are 
ragged and serrated. In order to explain the nature of the pro- 
cess, by which this change is effected, it is necessary, first, to ex- 
plain the structure of the flax plant : The stem of the plant 
consists of three parts : the ''shove," or wood, the pure fiber and the 
gum, resin or glutinous matter which cahses the fibers to adhere 
together. In the preparation of the plant for any purpose of fine 
manufacture it is necessary, first, to separate from the pure fiber 
both the woody part and the glutinous substances. The former 



No. 126.] 49 

of these may be removed by mechanical means ahnost as simple 
as those employed in the tlirashing of wheat. In order, however, 
to remove the glutinous substance from the fiber, recoui'se must 
be had either to the fermentation produced in the steeping process, 
or to some other chemical agent. The present system of steeping 
in water, whether cold or hot, is, however, ineffectual for the re- 
moval of the glutinous substances adhering to the fibers, a large 
percentage of which is insoluble in w^ater. Tlie first process, 
therefore, which is necessary in the preparation of the flax cotton 
is to obtain a perfect and complete disintegration of the fibers from 
each other by the entire removal of the substance which binds 
them together. 

This is effected by boiling the flax for about three hours, either 
in the state in which it comes from the field, or in a partially 
cleaned condition, in water containing about one-half per cent, of 
caustic soda. After undergoing this process, the flax is placed in 
water, slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid ; the proportions of 
acid used being one to five hundred of water. Any objection urged 
against the employment of such substances, even in the small pro- 
portions above stated, are at once met by the fact, that the soda 
present in the straw, after the first process, neutralizes the acid, 
and forms a neutral salt, known as sulphate of soda. This process 
producing, as it does, a complete separation of the integral fibers 
from each other, is equally adapted for the preparation of long 
fiber for the linen, or of short fiber for other branches of textile 
manufacture. When required to be prepared for linen, all that is 
necessary after the above process, is to dry and scutch it in the or- 
dinary modes. The advantages which this mode of preparation 
possesses over any other mode in use, are stated in the official re- 
port of the Proceedings of the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- 
land, to be the following : 

1st. '' That the preparation of long fiber for scutching is effected 
in less than one day, and isalw^ays uniform in strength, and entire- 
ly free from color, much facilitating the after process of bleaching, 
either in yarns or in cloth. 

D.— 1852. 



50 [ASSJEMBLY 

2d. " That it can also be bleached in the straw at very little ad- 
ditional expense of time or money. 

3d. " That the former tedious and uncertain modes of steeping 
are superceded by one perfectly certain, with ordinary care. 

4th. " That in consequence of a more complete severance of the 
fibers from each other, and also from the bark and boon, the pro- 
cess of scutching is effected with half the labor usually em- 
ployed." 

Complete, however, as may be the separation by this mode of 
treatment, the fibers from their tubular and cylindrical character, 
are still adapted only for the linen or present flax m.anufactures, 
as their comparatively harsh and elastic character unfits them for 
spinning on the ordinary cotton or woolen machinery. At this 
stage, therefore it is, that the most important part of the invention 
is brought into operation. 

The flax, either before or after undergoing the process required 
for the severance of the fibers, is cut by a suitable machine into 
the required lengths, and saturated in a solution of sesqui-car- 
bonate of soda (common soda,) a sufficient length of time to allow 
of the liquids entering into and permeating by capillary attraction 
every part of the small tubes. When sufficiently saturated, the 
fibers are taken out, immersed in a solution of diluted sulphuric 
acid of the strength of about one part to two hundred parts of 
water. The action of the acid on the soda contained in the tube 
liberates the carbonic gas which it contains, the expansive power of 
which causes the fibers to split, and produces the result above de- 
scribed. The fiber is then bleached and after having been dried 
and carded, in the same manner as cotton, is fit for being spun on 
the ordinary cotton or wool machinery. 

From this description of the process and the promised results, 
it will be apparent that this is a discovery of very great interest, 
if it proves successful. It has undergone various trials before the 



No. 126.] 51 

Royal Agricultural Society of England, and other Associations, 
and has been reported upon favorably, and is undergoing a thor- 
ough trial at some of the best Flax mills in Ireland, reports from 
whicli will be looked for with great interest. 

There was exhibited in the Palace, this invention in operation, 
preparing the Flax for use, and all the varieties of the fabric man- 
ufactured ft-om it, and from the appearance of the different varieties, 
so for as the complete manufoctm-e possessing the qualities de- 
scribed, the success appeared complete. As to the question of 
cost, it is not yet, I think, decided, that the manufactured article 
will be able to compete with cotton, but a great point is attained, 
if the flax-cotton and flax- wool can be obtained for manufacturing 
purposes, as claimed by Mr. Claussen. Samples of flax were ex- 
hibited, prepared by this process, designed to show the universal 
applicability of flax fiber to the purposes of textile manufactures. 

The first samples were intended to show the various processes 
resorted to in the preparation of flax into a material capable of 
being spun alone, or mixed with various proportions of cotton on 
any ordinary cotton spinning machine. The samples show: 1st. 
The flax as pulled, cut into suitable lengths by machinery. 2nd. 
As it appears after having undergone the first process of saturation 
in a solution of soda, required to remove the glutinous substance 
adhering to the fibers. 3d. The fibers as seen after the removal 
of the " shove" or woody part of the plant. 4th. The flax trans- 
formed into a cotton-like substance, by the expansive force of car- 
bonic acid gas produced by the action of an acid upon the soda, 
taken up by the fibers in the previous stage. The 5th, 6th and 
7th show the same, bleached, dried, carded and ready for spinning. 

There were also shown samples of mule and throstle yarn of 
various numbers, some of which are composed entirely of Flax, 
and others of various proportions of flax and cotton. Both of 
these descriptions of yarn were exhibited, bleached and dyed in 
various colors, for the purpose of showing that flax, prepared upon 
this process, is capable of receiving the same opaque dye as cotton, 



53 [ASSOIBLY 

andj in the mixed yarns, no diiierence can be seen in point of 
color or of shade between tlie two materials. Samples of grey and 
bleached, dyed and printed clotli, woven from the yarns, prepared 
as above, were also exhibited. Tliis description of yarn is called 
" Flax cotton yarn." 

The seco7id series of samples consists of yarns formed of various 
proportions of flax and wool, called "Flax wool yarn," the flax 
prepared mainly, as for spinning on cotton machinery. Those 
exhibited, spun on ordinary woolen machinery. Flannel, woolen 
cloths, milled and dyed, woven from these mixed yarns of 
various colors were shown. 

The third series contains samples of flax prepared for spin- 
ning alone or combined with short silk upon the ordinary 
silk machine. The flax so prepared, dyed of various colors, 
and possessing, unlike the samples prepared for the cotton ma- 
chinery, the brilliancy of color which is peculiar to silk. The 
yarns formed of equal or other portions of flax and silk, called 
" Flax silk yarns," were show'n dyed, and no difference in shade 
or color is perceptible in the tw^o materials. Silk woven from the 
yarn was also shown. 

In the fourth series, samples illustrative of the exhibitor's mode 
of preparing flax for spinning upon the ordinary flax machinery, 
and for its manufacture into linen fabrics. 

A fifth series consists of various samples of hemp, jute and the 
fibrous substances prepared, either in wiiole or in part, as above ; 
and samples of cloth, woven on a circular loom of Chevalier Claus- 
sen's, showing the applicability of the invention to articles of 
Hosiery. The advantages claimed as arising from the process, 
illustrated in the fourth series, for preparing flax for the linen 
manufacturers, are its simplicity, rapidity, certainty and cheapness. 
The first three samples were intended to show the applicability of 
the flax fiber for textile manufactures, other than linen or cam- 
brics. It can also be spun alone, on cotton machinery, by the or- 



No. 126.] 53 

dinajy cotton process. It has long been a desideratum with woolen 
maiifacturei-s of all classes, to obtain a material cheaper than wool, 
possessing the same felting or " milling " properties. Cotton and 
China grass have not this property. The flax fiber is said to be 
stronger than wool, and to mill equally with it. The sample 
shown was milled from 54 inches wide (as it fell from the loom) 
to 28 its present width. To prove its felting properties fully, hats 
have been made from the fiber, mixed with an insignificant por- 
tion of rabbits' hair. The Chevalier, also exhibited a Rotary ma- 
chine for knitting, &c., which will be noticed under the head of 
machinery. Samples of the flax as prepared by the above pro- 
cess are placed in our Agricultural rooms, 

I have been induced to give thus fully the description furnished 
by Mons. Claussen, of his process and the advantages claimed for it, 
believing that it is among the most important of the inventions 
exhibited, calculated to benefit and advance the industrial interest 
of oiu- country, and though it may not in its present condition, 
be equal to all that is claimed for it, still it is progress in the right 
direction, and I shall be greatly disappointed if it is not made 
available by the ingenuity of our countrymen in some form, so to 
cheapen the production of flax for the manufacturer, as to give a 
new impulse to its culture, and arrest the large amount of money 
now annually paid for flax fabrics, from the fiber grown on a foreign 
soiL The imports of goods manufactured from flax in the U. S. 
from 1844 to 1849, amounts to nearly six millions of dollars an- 
nually. The table of the exports from England, for the years 
1843, 4 and 5, which we have before us, shows the amount to be 
over twelve millions annually. Our trade being mainly from 
there, is evidence of the importance at least of our use of the ar- 
ticle in sustaining their manufacture of flax. Samples of the 
" flax cotton " in yarn, and fabrics were exhibited at the Annual 
Fair of the State Society at Rochester, in Sep. 1851, and in the 
minds of practical men who gave a full examination to the articles 
exhibited, they fully sustained the advantages claimed for them, 
in the remarks we have above given. 



M [Assembly 

In the awards made bj the Jury, dievalier Claussen received 
only a Prize Medal, probably on the ground that his invention is 
not yet so thoroughly demonstrated, practically, as to entitle it to 
a Council Medal — though, I believe many^ who in all respects 
were well qualified to judge on the matter, differed with them in 
their opinion. 

The Council Medal was awarded to the Belfast Flax Improve- 
ment for " the persevering and successful efforts to improve the 
quality of the fiber of flax." The specimens of flax exhibited 
by them in great variety, showed most clearly the importance of 
the improvements they had effected, which were in the highest 
degree creditable to them, and worthy of the commendation be- 
stowed upon the society. It would be well for our State to make 
similar efforts for the improvement of the various crops which are 
grown in the State and to encourage and develope the qualities of 
others which might be productive of good to our whole industrial 
interests. 

The countries from which flax was exhibited, were England, 
Austria, Belgium, Canada, United States, China, France, Nether- 
lands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, 
Van Dieman's Land and Zollverein. The flax from the various 
countries from which flax is imported into England, was arranged 
by one of the English exhibitors, in connection with hemp, illus- 
trating very satisfactorily the qualities of flax and hemp raised in 
each. An arrangement of flax was also made showing the various 
methods in use in preparing the fibers. 

Silk. — The most brilliant part of the exhibition was the silk 
department, especially that of manufactured fabrics. The exhibi- 
tion of French manufacturers was remarkably rich and gorgeous. 
Those from Lyons, St. Etienne, Avignon and Nismes, showed a 
very large variety, from the simplest poplins to the most gorgeous 
and splendid patterns, unsurpassed by any other portion of the 
exhibition. 



No. 126.] 55 

A very rich display was made in the English department, 
scarcely inferior to that from France. There were between eighty 
and ninety English exliibitors of silk goods, and some of ihem 
had tlie most attractive arrangement and display of any in tlie 
exhibition. The " Silk Trophy," which was arranged in the main 
avenue of the Palace, composed of the richest Tissues, Brocades, 
Silk Damasks and Velvets, arranged around glass mirrors, excited 
great attention and was thronged with visitors constantly. From 
Spitalfield, so long celebrated in the manufacture of silk fabrics, 
some peculiarly rich designs were displayed. There were exhibi- 
tions from several other countries. 

There was a very extensive exhibition of Woods from all parts 
of the world. Mr. R. L. Pell, of this State, exhibited a very 
extensive collection of forest and otlier woods, upwards of one 
hundi-ed in number, grown upon his own farm in Ulster county, 
and received an Honorable Mention for his exhibition, and his 
collection, we believe, was presented by him to the Royal Com- 
missioners. But the most perfect collection of American woods 
was to be seen in the English department, in a collection of woods 
from various parts of tlie world, upwards of seven liundred in 
number, arranged geographically, accompanied with the scien- 
tific and local name of each, weight per cubic foot, and the uses 
of each. Probably never before has there been so much useful 
infc«*mation afforded of the qualities and value of the woods of 
the world, as was contained in this collection. It was prepared 
by a Mr. Sanders of Wandsworth, England, and received a Prize 
Medal, to which, certainly, he was most justly entitled. It was a 
resort for everyone who desired to become familiar with tlie produc- 
tions of the world not only, but even with tliose of his own coun- 
try ; for there was more information in regard to the woods of 
America, than can be found by those wlio liave not been favored 
with opportunities of travelling througli the different States of 
oiu" Union and examining critically for themselves. 

In this class. Oils of various kinds were exhibited. A very 
choice sample of oil of peppermint from Messrs. H. G. k L. B. 



56 [Assembly 

Hotchkiss of Lyons, in this State, received a Prize Medal. Its 
quality was very superior, and it is understood that orders for the 
entire manufacture were given by a leading house in London. 

Starch. — There was a very extensive exhibition of this article, 
prepared from a great variety of subtances — Wheat, Rice, Sago, 
Potato, Indian Corn, &c. , Among the samples, there was exhibited 
from this State, by the Oswego Starch Factory, manufactured by T. 
Kingsford & Sons, a very fine sample which attracted, as it de- 
served, much attention, and was pronounced by the Jury equal to 
any they had seen — and it was awarded a Prize Medal. Inquiries 
were made by several dealers, as to the price at which it could 
be afforded in London — and if a supply can be furnished, there is 
no doubt of a market there for any surplus that can be manuiac- 
factured. This establishment has been in operation since 1849, 
and furnishes employment for about TOO persons. The amount 
of Corn and Wheat annually converted into Starch is 150,000 
bushels. From a chemical analysis, this Starch is found to be an 
article of uncommon purity, as will appear from the analysis 
made by A. A. Hays, State Assay er of Massachusetts. 

Results of an analysis of a sample of Oswego Starch : 
" The sample presented prismatic fragments of very white Starch 
granules, which, when magnified presented their forms and exhib- 
ited the appearances shown by Starch from grain. 1000 parts 
afforded, of matters soluble in cold water, and consisting of Dex- 
trine, Gluten and Lime Salts 1 .20 ; Carbonate of Lime, Phosphate 
of Lime and Magnesia 1.56 ; or, as matter apart from pure Starch, 
in all, 2.76 in 1000 parts. This proportion is much less than 
commercial Starch affords generally. 

From the result here stated, it will readily be inferred that this 
is an article of uncommon purity. In the originate proportion of 
moisture, nearly absolute freedom from other vegetable principles 
and earthly matters, it agrees with the finest qualities, while its 
whiteness and absence of organic acids, indicate that excellent 
materials only are used in its production." 



No. 126.] 57 

Colgate k Co., N. Y., whose Starch has long been celebrated in this 
country for its purity, had some of their Starch on exhibition, where 
its reputation was fully sustained, and a Prize Medal was awarded. 

Class 5. — B. Machines for direct use^ including Carriages^ and 
Raihvay and A''uval Mechanism. 

Machinery. — In this department, as waste have been expected, 
the English display a far more extensive assortment than all the 
other nations. The exhibition shows what perfection has been at- 
tained, and the beauty of finish and arrangement, is certainly worthy 
of all praise. Of machinery, of really new principles, there did not 
appear to me to be much in the English department, and one of the 
English writers, in speaking of this department says : "We could not 
see any machine of new principle or construction, there are improve- 
ments here and there, rendering the machines more perfect." There 
was much however, showing the great progress Avhich has been made 
for the last fifty years, that bears a most important part in the great 
progress which has been made in our w^orld. I was informed by a 
very skilful mechanic from our State, who examined the machi- 
nery with great minuteness, that very many of the most valuable 
improvements were taken from American inventions, and the very 
machines were named in which they were to be found. 

A writer in reviewing what has been done, says : " Steam navi- 
gation was not only practically unknown at the close of the last 
century, but in England was held to be visionary by Watts ; now, 
however, thousands of steam vessels plough the ocean, and fill the 
harbors of every commercial nation of importance, and pass from 
one continent to another, with a facility and certainty that brings 
America and Europe within almost a wreck's time of each other. 

" In railways, all that was practically known at the beginning of 
the century, was a few rude colliery tram roads, rudely constructed 
wood or cast iron rails, and traversed by ruder wagons, drawn by 
horses, at the rate of three or four miles per hour ; and even ns 
late as 1824, George Stephenson, the father of the locomotive, state d 



58 [Assembly 

at a meeting at Leeds, that " he hoped yet to move the trains at 
the rate of 10 miles an hour; and Nicholas Wood in the first edi- 
tion of his ' Treatise on Railways/ published about the same time, 
speaks of the notion of such speed, as being by its very extrava- 
gance^ likely to retard the progress of the railway by steam. 
Stephenson lived to see 80 miles an hour accomplished, and the 
whole system of stage coach arrangements superseded, and the man- 
ufacturer at the extreme of England, enabled to proceed to the 
metropolis in the morning, transact his business and return to his 
home the same evening. If progress has been made in these de- 
partments, so also have surprising changes been effected in the 
manufacturing branches." Tlie Jaquard loom, has taken the place of 
the old hand-loom, exhibiting its wonder working power ; and the 
power loom by Bigelow, for weaving Brussels carpets, has from our 
own country through the great exhibition, astonished the world at 
the accomplishment of what before was deemed inapproachable by 
the aid of machinery; weaving Brussels carpets by the power loom. 
The London Morning Chronicle in speaking of the United States 
department said : " Tliis department has again received an impor- 
tant accession of strength, in the shape of Brussels carpets, woven 
upon power looms. Although various attempts have been made 
to adapt the power loom to carpet weaving in this country, there 
is not we believe, at this moment, any machinery perfected for 
the object ; our American brethren have gained another step ahfead 
of us, and have won another laurel, on this well contested field of 
industrial arts." 

The printing press too, throwing off 15,000 sheets per hour, in- 
stead of 250, as formerly the extent of the hand press, and that in 
England, as late as 1814. But to crown all, the Electric Tele- 
graph brought into real acting life, by our own Morse, now sends 
the intelligence from island to continent, as well as across continents, 
with the rapidity of lightning, actually annihilating time — and 
this all exhibited before the world in the great exhibition. These 
results of the advancement of machinery and engineering upon 
the ocean and upon the land, are truly w^onderful, and are exert- 
ing an influence upon the world's progress of the most gratifying 



No. 126.] 59 

character, and will, with the diftiision of light and truth, under the 
blessings of Heaven, it may be hoped, effect tlie regeneration of 
our world. The exhibition attests in its every department the ad- 
vance which has been made. 

The models of the Steam Engines, afford nearly every various 
form of the Engine which has been found useful in its application, 
to Manufactures, to the Steamer and Locomotive. It would be 
gratifying to dwell on some of these — but in a report as limited as 
this must of necessity be, it cannot be done with propriety. An 
interesting incident, related of one of the gentlemen connected 
with this great work, came to my notice since I left England. 
The first Engine driver^ Mr. Fox^ now Sir Charles Fox, the acting 
and main contractor for the Crystal Palace, and who, by his energy 
and skill has so greatly distinguished himself — was the first 'person 
who guided the engine which Stephenson built, and aided to win 
the prize which Stephenson received. His energy of character 
thus early developed, under very trying circumstances, shadow'ed 
forth the successful and distinguished man of 1851. 

Most of the Steam Engines, on exhibition, were from England. 
A large number of oscillating engines were exhibited, in operation. 
These were very compact, occupied but little space, and seemed to 
perform well. They are used on board many of their steamers. A 
Council Medal was awarded for a couple of Marine Engines, by 
Penn k Son, of Greenwich — and a Council Medal to a Belgian for 
a pair of vibrating cylinder engines, in connexion with other 
engines and boilers. Two Locomotive Engines, by S. R. Crampton 
England, very powerful ones, received a Council Medal ; they 
were designed for the London and North Western Railway. The 
admirable manner in which the engines were got up, was a subject 
of observation and remark. 

The United States did not exhibit any Marine Engines — a draw- 
ing of a pair of Engines, such as are fitted in the steamer Pacific, 
was on exhibition and attracted much notice. Her rapid passages 
are well known, and regret was often expressed that the engines 



60 [Assembly 

were not present. That they would have reflected credit upon our 
country, none can doubt. Erricson, of New-York, exhibited 
Dunn's Patent Caloric Engine — ^but as it was not in operation, no 
opinion was given by the Jurors. The invention consists in pro- 
ducing motive power by the application of caloric to atmospheric 
air, or other permanent gases or fluids susceptible of considerable 
expansion by increase of temperature ; the mode of applying the 
caloric being such that, after having caused the expansion or 
dilatation which produces the motive power, the caloric is trans- 
ferred to certain metallic substances, and again re-transferred 
from these substances, to the acting medium at certain intervals, 
or at each successive stroke of the motive engine ; the principal 
supply of caloric being thereby rendered independent of combus- 
tion of consumption of fuel. Accordingly, whilst in the Steam 
Engine, the caloric is constantly wasted by being passed into the 
condenser, or by being carried off into the atmosphere, in the im- 
proved engine, the caloric is employed over and over again, thus 
enabling the operator to dispense with the employment of com- 
bustibles, excepting for the purpose of restoring the heat lost by 
the expansion of the acting medium, and that lost by radiation 
also, and for the purpose of making good the small deficiency un- 
avoidable in the transfer ol the caloric. 

A working model of this engine was expected at the exhibition, 
to be put in operation — ^but it did not arrive. If what is claimed 
for it shall prove to be correct, it will be a great advance on our 
present engines. Since my return I have heard that the engine 
intended for England has been put in operation, in New- York, and 
that its success, in the opinion of the operators, is placed beyond a 
doubt. Whether this be so or not, probably the public will soon be in- 
formed. If it succeeds, it will be another triumph for our engineers. 

C. Starr, of New- York, exhibited two machines for book-bind- 
ing — one for backing, the other for finishing the books. The ma- 
chines are very powerful, a single stroke effects the embossing of 
the covers. They possess great advantages over machines hereto- 
fore in use for this purpose. A miniature engine, made by Master 



No. 126.] 61 

Higgiiibotliam, of Oneida, in this State, was exhibited, and was 
highly creditable to his skill. 

In this class were exhibited Fire Engines and Annihilators, and 
Fire Escapes, to convey people from houses in flames — and systems 
of fire proof constructions to prevent the ravages of fire. There 
was nothing new in the Fire Engines exhibited, of special im- 
portance. They were shown of all sizes — a cabinet Fire Engine, 
resembling an article of furnitui*e, in appearance, was in use in 
the exhibition, for watering the large trees enclosed within the 
building — an improved spreading jet, connected with the branch 
pipe, makes it applicable to garden purposes. The jet, by a simple 
contrivance, is spread out into a sheet of water , and in this form 
it was used in the Palace, throwing a stream of water to the high- 
est trees. A very superior engine, from Canada, was exhibit- 
ed, which, on trial, with the London Engines proved, as was 
claimed for it, that it could throw water nearly one third higher. 

A great variety of Fire Escapes were shown — Phillips' Fire 
Annihilator, for extinguishing fires, by discharging incombustible 
gas against the flame, which is very soon extinguished, w^as shown. 
This machine was tried frequently while I was in England, and 
the success which attended its operation, on prepared buildings 
which were fired, seemed to secure the confidence of the public, 
so far, at least, as to satisfy them, that if the machine was at hand, 
when a fire commenced, it would be useful in extinguishing it. 
It was not pretended that it could be brought into successful use 
in a great conflagration, but that in the early stages of a fire, within 
enclosed walls, it could be made to operate with success. 

There were several models for making houses fire-proof, but the 
most important improvement in this respect was the plan of build- 
ing with hollow bricks. There w^ere exhibitions of these brick, 
in both the English and French departments. Opposite the Crystal 
Palace a block of model houses was erected by Prince Albert, a 
contribution to the exhibition. The peculiarities of the building, 
which was designed for four families, were the exclusive use of 



62 [Assembly 

hollow bricks for the walls and partitions and the entire absence 
of timber in the floors and roof, which were formed with flat 
arches of hollow brick- work, which was secured by wrought iron 
rods connected with cast iron springers resting on the external 
walls and binding the whole structure together. The building is 
thus rendered fire-proof and much more durable than if built in 
the ordinary manner. 

The most important advantages derivable from the use of hol- 
low bricks, are dryness and warmth, as well as economy of con- 
struction. The evils resulting from the absorption of moisture by 
common bricks and other porous materials are obviated and the 
battening of the walls is unnecessary. Hollow brick may be made 
with any good tile machine, in the same manner as ordinary drain- 
ing pipes, and at about the same cost in proportion to the clay 
used. They are more compressed, require less drying, and with 
much less fuel are better burned than ordinary bricks, even when 
waste heat, or that in the upper part of the kiln only, is used. 

The saving in brickwork eflected by the use of the patent bricks, 
when made at a fair price, will be from twenty-five to thirty per 
cent, on their cost, with a reduction of twenty-five per cent, on 
the quantity of mortar, and a similar saving on the labor, when 
done by accustomed workmen. The process of drying is much 
more rapid than in common brickwork, and the smoothness of the 
internal surface of walls built with the patent bonded brick ren- 
ders plastering, in many instances, quite unnecessary, whereby a 
further saving is effected not only in the first cost, but also in the 
subsequent maintenance. If glazed on the outer face, as may bc 
done with many clays, a superior finished surface is obtainabl'j 
without plaster. 



No. 126.] 63 

The annexed elevation and section show a wall nine inches 
thick ; the same principle, with some variation in the form of the 
internal bricks, will apply to any thickness of wall. 



• 


1 






M 


I 
i 








• 











^ 



oo 



[^3 



9 ' 

The dimensions of the bricks being unlimited, a size has been 
chosen which, with the omission of the headers, reduces, by about 
one- third, the number of joints, and greatly improves the appear- 
ance of the work, giving it more boldness of effect and resemblance 
to stone than that of ordinary brickwork — twelve inches in length, 
including the joints, three courses rises one foot in height ; a size 
equally convenient for the workmen in the manufacture, and the 
use of the bricks — whilst less liable to damage in moving than 
bricks of larger size, their form admits of ready handling and 
stowage for transport. 

Nine patent hollow bricks of the size before described will do 
as much walling as sixteen ordinary bricks, whilst the weight of 
the former but little exceeds that of the latter, an important con- 
sideration in reference to carriage, as well as the labour in using. 

When passing through the machine, or in the process of drying, 
any number may be readily splayed at the ends for gables, or 
marked for closures, and broken off as required in use ; or they 
may be perforated for the purpose of ventilation. If nicked with 
a sharp-pointed hammer, they will break off at any desired line ; 
and the angles may be taken off with a trowel as readily as those 
of a common brick. 



A sufficient proportion of good facing bricks may be selected 
from an ordinary burning, and in laying them, a much better bond 
will be obtained than is usually given in common brickwork. 



64 



[Assembly 



The bricks for the quoins and jambs may be made either solid 
or perforated ; and with perpendicular holes, either circular, 
square, or octagonal, those in the quoins may be so arranged as to 1 
serve for ventilating shafts. Stone will be found equally applica- 
ble for the quoins and jambs, and the appearance of the work be 
thereby improved. 



Illustrative Example of Hollow Brick Construction^ as exhibited in 
one compartment of the Model Structure. 




Square Jamb 
and Chimney Brick. 



Section of a 
1ft. 2in. Wall. 



Internal door 
and Chimney Brick. 



No. 126.] «5 

The above section is also illustrative of the construction adop- 
ted in H.R.H. Prince Albert's Model Houses. The span of the 
arches being increased over the Living Rooms to 10 feet 4 inches, 
with a proportionate addition to their rise. The external springers 
are of cast iron, with brick cores, connected by wrought iron tie rods. 

The French hollow brick, which were made in tlie Palace 
by their brick machine, constructed after the plan, somewhat of 
the tile machines, were different in form from the English. They 
are about 5 inches by 6, with square holes through the brick. 
They are much stronger than the English. When put under 
pressure, it required about one-third more pressure to crush the 
French brick, than it did the English. The expense of manufac- 
ture is about the same. It is said, that in some late excavations 
in England, hollow brick have been found among the Roman re- 
mains in good preservation, and portions of wall joined together 
not materially different from those of the present day. 

From the observation I was enabled to make in relation to this 
improvement, it seems to me one of great practical importance, 
and which can be readily introduced into this country, and is cer- 
tainly of as much importance to us as to any other nation.* 

Compressed Tree-nails for Railroads. — In this class, Ransom 
and May, of Ipswich, England, exhibited patent compressed tree- 
nails and wedges for railways, for which a Medal was awarded. 
This is a very valuable improvement, and is being very generally 
introduced upon the Railroads in Europe, more than 2,000 miles 
being laid with them, and would doubtless prove equally advanta- 
geous in this country. A railway chair, as it is called, in which 
the rails rest, of cast iron, of from 20 to 40 lbs. weight, is secured 

•Note. — Since this report was prepared, I have been informed that arrangements are already 
making for the introduction of hollow brick in this State. Mr. Joseph E. Holmes, of Fish- 
kill Landing, who was at the "World's Fair as the representative of Dicks' Anti Friction Presses, 
and a most intelligent and observing mechanic, has since his return, in connection with Mr. 
F. B. Taylor, invented machinery for the manufacture of hollow brick for building purposes. 
I am rejoiced at this, and cannot doubt Mr. Holmes' success. 

E.— 1852. 



66 [Assembly 

by wedges of compressed wood, the chairs being fastened to sleep- 
ers of wood by compressed tree-nails. These latter are cylinders 
of dry oak, compressed by forcing them into iron molds with a 
conical orifice ; whilst in the mold, steam heat is applied, and the 
whole afterwards allowed to cool ; the wood is afterwards forced 
out, and is then a cylinder of 1| inch drum for 4 J inches of its 
length, and conical for IJ inches more. These tree-nails or pins 
are used for nailing the chairs to the sleepers ; and as they swell 
with the moisture of the earth, they form a tight but slightly elas- 
tic fastening -, and railways thus fastened are smoother than those 
in which metal fastenings are used. 

The Great Hydraulic or Brittania Press, part of the great hy- 
draulic apparatus with which the Erittania bridge over the Menai 
Straits was elevated, was on exhibition — said to be the most pow- 
erful ever constructed. The greatest weight lifted by the press at 
the bridge, was 1,144 tons — the quantity of water used for each six 
feet lift, 811 gallons. The Engineer, Mr. Edwin Clark, in his work 
on the Brittania and Conway Bridges, says, that " the pressure at 
three tons per circular inch equals 3,819 tons per square inch, 
which would raise a column of water 5.41 miles in height: this 
pressure would, therefore, be sufficient to throw a column of water 
over the highest mountains on the globe." 

A Centrifugal Pump, called Appold's, was awarded a Council 
Medal. It was of great simplicity, and performed its work with a 
rapidity and power that was astonishing. 

The principle is thus illustrated : 

" By means of a little wheel 12 inches in diameter, and 3 inches 
in width, with twisted apertures, radiating from an open central 
space, there was made to rise to the roof of the department w^here 
the pump was in operation, a mass of water, which produced a 
broad and continuous waterfall, sufficient to turn a powerful wa- 
ter wheel. The wheel was driven by an oscillating engine of the 
requisite power to produce the rapid revolution in the little wheel 
which did the work. The wheel itself contained one single gallon 



No. 126.] 67 

of water, wlien its apertures were full ; yet, by being made to re- 
volve at the rate of 007 revolutions in a minute, it lifted no less 
tlian 1,800 gallons in the course of that time, so that it must have 
been filled and emptied about three times in the course of every re- 
volution. In fact, the disc once under water, when it w^orked, may 
be said to carry the water through its apertures, in continued 
streams or threads, or more properly, cables of w^ater, forced out 
at several spaces by the centrifugal power of its rapid rotation. 
The main use of this invention was for the purpose of draining 
fen or marshy land, for which it must prove of great value. 
J. Stuart Gwynne, of New-York, exhibited his Centrifugal pump, 
which he claimed w^as equal, if not superior to Appold's. His 
pump was received with great favor by practical men, and Mr. 
G Wynne has commenced their manufacture in England, and with 
every prospect of success. Its great simplicity as well as its power, 
certainly gave evidence of its acknowledged worth. In cases of 
fire, a pump on Mr. G Wynne's plan, with a discharge pipe of 9 
inches in diameter, will throw^ 4,000 gallons per minute, and wdth 
a piston of 48 inches diameter, (the pump making 400 revolutions 
per minute,) the water could be raised from mines to a height of 
120 feet. In mining districts, when water is required to be ele- 
vated to large heights, this pump promises many advantages over 
any we have seen. 

Carriages. — In connection wdth this class a sub-jury had charge 
of the carriages. There was a very extensive exhibition of these 
fi-om various countries, illustrating the styles which pertain to 
each. There were several on exhibition from the United States, 
which were much lighter in their construction than those from 
other countries, especially those from England. A Prize Medal 
w^as awarded for a slide top buggy, and for a sporting w^agon. 
Taking the w^hole exhibition in this sub-division together, it did 
not appear to be the most attractive, nor showing the progress 
which really has been made. 

Sleighs were exhibited from Russia, Canada, United States, &c., 
in considerable variety, and attracted much notice from visitors, 



68 [ASSJEMBLT 

but do not appear to have received awards from the Jurors. A 
very neat and highly finished pony sleigh, was sent from this city 
by James Goold & Co., which was much admired. 

Class 6. Manufacturing Machines and Tools. — ^This department 
was the most interesting and important of any portion of the ma- 
chinery in the Palace, and a very large number of Council Med- 
als were awarded — the number being twenty-two, one of which 
to the United States .for DicWs Anti-friction Presses^ manufactured 
under the direction of Joseph E. Holmes, of Fishkill Landing, 
Dutchess County. 

The anti-friction presses are modifications of a highly ingenious 
arrangement of cams and levers, by which any degree of purchase 
may be obtained, with comparatively, the absence of friction. The 
principal peculiarity is the employment of pairs of eccentrics or 
cams, which, on being made to perform a part of a revolution, in- 
crease the distance between the centers, and exert an effort in doing 
so, dependent on the degree of difference between the curve of the 
cam and a true circle, or in other words, on the rate of increase of 
the radius. An advantage belonging to this description of machine 
is, that by modifying the curvature of the cams, the leverage can be 
regulated to suit the work to which the instrument is applied. Thus 
in compressing cotton, hay, tobacco, or any other kind of goods, an 
increasing leverage is requisite, so that the power increases with 
the resistance. This, the hydraulic press cannot do, and this ma- 
chine has great advantages in this respect. It is much cheaper, 
lighter, and less liable to get out of order than the hydraulic press, 
and works with the minimum of friction, and therefore with the 
greatest amount of available power. 

The presses of various sizes and for different purposes exhibited, 
excited no little interest among scientific and practical machinists, 
and the universal tribute to its importance, was given by the 
unanimous award of the Council Medal by a Jury composed of 
the most distinguished men from various countries. The right to 
use it, a patent having been obtained in England — was disposed 



No, 126,] 69 

of in London, for a very large sum of money. This improvement 
reflects great credit on our country — and whatever differences 
existed as to other articles, as to the anti-friction presses, there was 
but one opinion, among men competent to judge, of their great 
superiority. 

The following flattering testimonial to the value and superiority 
of one of 'Mr, Dicks' Presses, over any in use in England for blind 
stamping book cases, was given during the exhibition by one ot 
the leading houses in the trade in London : 

Shoe Lane, London, August 18, 1851, 
<• Dear Sir — We have now had sufiicient experience in the work- 
ing of your press at the Exhibition, to be able to form an estimate of 
its merits for blind stamping book covers, and we have no hesita- 
tion in saying, that it is vastly superior to any machine for that 
purpose now in use in London. We consider that it supplies a 
want which we have felt for some time, no improvement having 
been made in the machinery in use in London, for the last twenty 
yearsj which is now quite inadequate to the wants of the trade. 

We have been working a large die in the Exhibition, with your 
machine, and have taken impressions at the rate of 20 per minute, 
or 1 ,200 per hour. Our own press will enable us to take only 
five impressions per minute, or 300 per hour ; and to obtain this 
we require three powerful men, two to work, and the other as a 
relay to relieve the other two, every half hour or so. Your press 
being worked by steam powder, we cannot draw a comparison 
between them as to the labor required, but our opinion is, that ii 
your press was worked by hand, a man and boy would do more 
work than three men could do at our own press. 

We remain, sir, yours truthfully, 

LEIGHTON & HODGES." 
J. E, Holmes, Esq, 

The Jacquard loom, invented by Barlow of London, for the ex- 
peditious weaving of figured goods, received a Council Medal. 



70 [Assembly 

The work of this truly wonderful loom seemed to be the perfection 
of inventive power — and is only excelled, probably^ by the Brus- 
sels carpet loom of our own countryman, Bigelow. 

Hibbert, Piatt & Sons, in the English department, exhibited a 
complete series of machines employed in the cleaning, preparation 
and spinning of cotton, showing the whole process to the weaving 
inclusive. A Council Medal was awarded. 

The cotton machinery in operation was a very interesting fea- 
ture in the Exhibition ; and everything that relates to the advance 
made in this branch of industry cannot be otherwise than interest- 
ing to our country. It is the great and important manufacturing 
interest, which in connection with the other branches of manufac- 
tures, has given to England much of her importance and wealth. 
It is important to the United States, not only as regards our own 
manufactures, but also the supply which we are able to furnish to 
England in the shape of raw material. In 1849-50, the exports 
were $71,948,616— of which England received $46,876,098— and 
for the year 1851 the exports have been about $112,000,000 — and 
probably a proportionate amount to England. A brief account, 
therefore, of the progress of this branch of industry, as illustrated 
in the exhibition, it is conceived, will not be devoid of interest. 

The description of this machinery, as given by an English wri- 
ter, is interesting from its history, presenting a most strange series 
of struggles, vicissitudes and successful results. In tracing its 
history, however, it is unpleasant to find those who gave birth to 
the first ideas of improvement, those who have real claims to 
originality of invention, deserted and ruined in consequence — 
whilst others, taking up the same ideas, with means at command, 
carry them to perfection and secure fortunes. But this has been 
ever thus, in every period of the history of the inventive portion 
of the world. As late as 1760^ the machines used for the manu- 
facture of cotton in England, were as simple as those used in India, 
of which specimens were seen in the exhibition. In 1738, the 
fly shuttle was contrived, which simply consisted in the weaver 



No. 126.] 71 

sending the shuttle backward and forward through the warp by 
means of strings in eacli hand. This was a great improvement, 
because, one man could weave clotli of sucli widtli, that previ- 
ously required two persons. But this Avas not applied to cotton 
generally until 1760, having been first used in the woolen manu- 
factures. Spinning by machinery, is said to have been invented 
by John Wyatt, for whicli a patent was taken out in 1738. Yet, 
Sir R. Arkwright, perfected the, machine and took out a patent 
for his spinning machine in 1769. In 1770, the spinning Jenny 
was patented by Hargreaves. It is said, he obtained tlie idea 
from seeing a one thread macliine overturned upon the floor, when 
both wheel and spindle continued to revolve. This threw the 
spindle from a horizontal to an upright position. He concluded 
that a number of threads might be spun at once, by having a num- 
ber of spindles placed side by side in an upright position. The 
Jenny was then invented by which the roving, which is a loosely 
twisted thread, about the thickness of the wick of a candle is 
drawn out, and spun into fine yarn. In carding, the greatest im- 
provements were perfected by Mr. Knight, in 1775 

In 1776 the mule was invented by Samuel Crampton, but was 
not generally known until about 1785, and it was sometime before 
it was brought to perfection. The most successful self-acting 
machine in England was invented by Mr. Roberts of Manchester, 
in 1825. 

An immense impulse was given to the cotton manufacture by 
the introduction of the steam engine by Rolton and Watt. Their 
first engine was applied to a cotton mill in 1785. 

The cotton machinery in the exhibition shows the progress whicli 
has been made ; the principle is not materially different, but the 
cotton undergoes a greater number of operations, so that the fibers 
may be in a better condition to undergo a more perfect process of 
spinning, but the machines are substantially the same except 
having kept pace with the improvement of mechanism, rendering 
the machines more perfect. From what 1 have seen of our cot- 



72 [Assembly 

ton machinery I am satisfied that it is in every respect equal, if 
not superior, to that shown in the exhibition. 

Woolen Machinery and Silk Machinery was exhibited in oper- 
ation, most perfect of its kind, and admirably adapted to the work 
required. 

Coining Presses. — A very ingenious coining press, acting by an 
eccentric, which coined at the rate of from thirty to forty pieces 
per minute, completing the coin and milling the edge in letters at 
one motion, was exhibited from Cologne, Germany, and received 
a Council Medal. In the English department one was shown 
which also received a Council Medal, but that only gave the im- 
pression on the face of the coin. It was, however, an improve- 
ment upon former presses, and had it not been for the German 
press w^ould doubtless have been considered the most perfect of 
its kind. 

In this class, prize medals were awarded to the United States ex- 
hibitors, Lerow& Blodget, for their Rotary Sewing Machinej C. Starr, 
New- York, for his Book Binding Machine ; to Woodbury, Massa- 
chusetts, for his Planing Machine ; to Earl & Co., for Card Cloth- 
ing ; Eastman's Stone Cutting Machines ; Lowell Machine Shop, 
for a self acting Lathe and Power Loom ; Hay den, for a Draining 
Regulator for cotton. 



No. 126.] 



73 

Lerow & Blodgett's Sewing Machine. 
Fisc. 1, 




Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and fig. 2 is a plan view of the 
shuttle race : the same letters refer to like parts. 



This machine is represented as driven by a band from a line of 
shafting. A is the bed-plate of the machine ; B B are the posts ; 
C C is a feed ring with fine teeth on it, to feed the cloth, to be 
sewn into the needle. This ring has not a horizontal motion, like 
the old machine, but is vertical, and much more convenient. It 
is moved round by a ratchet, F, which has a spring, G, attached 
to it. This ratchet catches into teeth on the back part of said 
ring C, and is operated by the revolving cam pulley driven by the 
band. This ratchet moves the ring so as to move the cloth forward 

Fig. 




74 [Assembly 

every stitch length exactly. D is a vertical spindle moved by the 
band passing round the pulley below. This spindle drives the shut- 
tle and operates the needle. On its top under the crown-plate, there 
is a pinion gearing into the pinion, N, on the needle spindle, H. 
M is the spool of thread on the fixed bracket ; I is the needle arm, 
and K is the needle head. The thread will be observed passing 
down and through the eye of the needle, which is near the point, 
being thereby diiferent from common needles ; the needle is a 
peculiar and improTed one -, it has a vertical groove on both sides, 
running to the point, whereby the thread lies close, and forms a 
round needle altogether. There is a cam groove on the top of 
the spindle H. It will therefore be observed that, as the said 
spindle revolves, the groove will guide the end of the needle arm 
to give the needle a reciprocating up and down motion. E is the 
shuttle disc ; the shuttle is a crooked instrument, represented by 
0, fig. 2 ; it has a spool of thread, P, in it, like a weaver's shuttle; 
it moves round in the outside circle, but is moved by the inside 
disc, E, which revolves, and there are two side springs and notches, 
which enable the said disc to hold on, as it were, and carry round 
the shuttle. When the needle goes through the cloth it carries 
its thread double along with it, which is slightly held by the cloth 
in return, and forms a loop inside, then the shuttle comes under 
it at that instant, passes through the loop, and thus the two threads 
are locked ; and when the shuttle is on the opposite of the circle 
of its course, the needle is farthest drawn up, and this action 
tightens the stitch, which is then drawn tight, nearly like a sad- 
dler's. The laced work seen in figures 1 and 2 is a piece of cloth 
sewn on a projection for slightly resisting the motion of the shut- 
tle thread underneath, to make it draw tight across the circle 
while the shuttle is passing around. It will be observed that the 
great space between the needle and the back spindle, allows large 
folds of cloth to be sewed with great facility. 

Applegate's Vertical Printing Machine, which was at work 
during the exhibition, received a Prize Medal. This machine 
printed 5,000 impressions per hour. But one by the same gen- 
tleman, made for the London Times, prints 10,000 sheets per 



No. 126.] 75 

liour. From an examination of Hoe's press in this country, it is 
I think, decidedly superior in work to Applegate's. Claussen's 
Circuhu- Loom for Plosiery received a medal. By this loom, Ho- 
siery and other stuffs may be woven without a seam. It was opera- 
ted by very small power, and performed its work with great rapidi- 
ty. It was a very ingenious invention, and certainly entitled to the 
award which was given. 

Class 7. — Civil Engineering, Architectural and Building Con- 
trivances. — This class was not very extensive. His Eoyal High- 
ness Prince Albert, for his model cottage already noticed ; Messrs. 
Fox and Henderson, and Sir Joseph Paxton for the execution and 
design of the Palace, were honored with Council Medals. Models 
of bridges were exhibited, for which medals were awarded ; one 
for the Brittania bridge, and one for the Iron bridge Co., New-York, 
for a model of Ryder's patent Iron bridge. Models of ships and 
railways were also noticed. 

In Class 8. — Kaval Architecture and Military Engineerings Ord- 
nance^ ^'c. — A large number of prizes were awarded. The United 
States had awarded one Prize Medal to the National Institute at 
Washington, for models of ships of war and large merchant 
vessels. 

A considerable number of Prize Medals were awarded for guns, 
rifles, &c., but strange to say, Colt's celebrated Revolvers, were 
only favored with an Honorable Mention, as appears from the re- 
turns I have. This is the more singular, when it is recollected, 
that the English press without an exception, so far as I am in- 
formed, gave great prominence to this most important and inval- 
uable improvement of Mr. Colt, which has found great favor in 
England, and his rifles and pistols have been largely ordered for 
the use of the British army. There was an attempt made during 
the exhibition, to show, that Colt was not the inventor of the re- 
volvers, one having been found in Paris, I believe of very ancient 
date. That may be so, for aught I know, but it is not the less true 
that so far as giving efl&ciency and practicability to the invention, 



76 [Assembly 

tlie world is indebted to him, and he is as truly and justly entitled 
to the credit of the invention, as if it had never before entered 
into the mind of another. Honorable Mention was also given to 
W. R. Palmer, for a Target Rifle, and to Robbins & Lawrence for 
Military Rifles, 

There was awarded a Prize Medal, for specimens showing the 
advantages of Marine glue^ as a substitute for pitch, and for other 
purposes connected with ship building, the invention of an English 
exhibitor. This appeared a very valuable invention. There was 
exhibited the piece of a mast of a vessel, which had been joined by 
this glue, which was inseparable by the wedge, driven with all the 
power that could be applied. Another piece tested by the Hydraulic 
press, 22 tons power required to move one splinter, but the joints 
remained perfect, giving an additional strength, dispersed over 
the surface of the main-mast of a first rate man of war, of 3,000 
tons and upwards. Its use also for securing the joints between 
the planks forming the floors and decks of ships, is invaluable. 
The advantages over pitch were fully illustrated, by the exhibi- 
tion of two seams, one payed with glue, the other with pitch, ex- 
posed to the same temperature in a tropical climate. There were 
a variety of samples in various forms where this had been used, 
which showed clearly its great value. 

Yachts. — In this class were exhibited models of the Yachts 
belonging to the Royal Thames Yatch Club — and others, by the 
builders and designers. It would have added greatly to the 
interest and usefulness of the exhibition in this class, if the 
model of Steers " America" had been exhibited, especially after 
the match at Cowes had attracted so much attention, and caused 
multitudes to visit her for the purpose of ascertaining the peculi- 
arities which had enabled her to vanquish the most celebrated 
Yachts of the Kingdom. 

The designs of Life Boats which had been procured by the Duke 
of Northumberland, showed some very excellent ones — and in the 
severe gales which have prevailed on the English coast during the 



No. 126.] 77 

winter, the prize boats, it is said, have fully sustained the propri- 
ety of their selections. 

Class 9. Agricultural Implements and Tools. — There was prob- 
ably no department in the Exhibition which illustrated, in a more 
striking manner, its true object " that of showing the point of 
developments which the nations of the world have reached, in the 
great task of subduing nature to their use," than that devoted to 
the display of Agricultural Implements. The bringing together 
of the Agricultural Implements and products of all countries 
cannot be otherwise than productive of mutual benefit to all, 
enabling a comparison to be made of those adapted to each par- 
ticular location, and thus the careful examiner was placed in a 
position to ascertain and learn, during the exhibition, that w^hich 
would require years of travel to obtain as satisfactorily. In the 
English department, there was a most perfect exhibition of im- 
plements of husbandry. " But in passing from this area, filled 
with the results of human ingenuity and the skill of the mechan- 
ician and engineer, to the compartments of India and other less 
favored countries, contrasting their rude implements of husbandry, 
with theirs — and perhaps in no department of the exhibition will 
a more striking lesson be conveyed, or the progress of the human 
race more completely demonstrated." 

" In the Indian compartment are to be seen models of the old 
plow, fashioned in the same rude manner as it was centuries 
since, with the driver standing upon the frame work; the oxen 
are yoked in the same ancient style as when Elisha was seen 
" plowing with twelve yoke of oxen," or as when, in the time of 
Samuel, " an half acre" was considered as much as a pair of oxen 
could plow in a day. 

We there see the model of a squalid and wretched looking 
sower scattering and wasting the seed ; and the hoofs of oxen tread 
out the grain after the same fashion as existed centuries ago — 
while in England and the United States, the steam engines, im- 
proved drills, horse hoes, and thrashing machines perform the 



78 [Assembly 

work which is badly and tardily accomplished by the Indian peas- 
ant. The exhibition shows that, in matters of husbandry, the 
vast majority of the natives of the Indian empire are stationary, 
w^hile Great Britain and the United States of America, on the other 
hand, indicate the most striking improvement in this respect. 
" The same remark applies, but in a more qualified manner, to 
most of the continental states of Europe ; they have advanced be- 
yond the rude and earlier stages, but it is not too much to say, 
judging from their display at the exhibition, that they are still 
much in arrear. There is probably no implement which has re- 
ceived a greater amount of attention on the part of the implement 
makers, than the plow. During the last twenty or thirty years, 
the improvements which have taken place, have been of the most 
extensive and practical character ; a circumstance which is no 
doubt mainly attributable to the impulse which has been given by 
the practical tests to which they have been frequently submitted, 
before practical judges at Agricultural exhibitions, for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining which peculiar construction of plow did its 
work in the best manner, and at the least expenditure of labor 
and money. To the solution of these questions the most eminent 
agricultural engineers have devoted their time and attention, and, 
as the display of this kind of instrument proves, with very great 
success. 

The English Plows which received the prizes from the Jurors 
were made principally of wrought iron, and did excellent work. 
They were most of them, however, complicated and very expen- 
sive, and one of the greatest merits claimed for some of them on 
exhibition was, that they were now so constructed that a plow- 
man " could remove or replace the irons, subject to wear and break- 
age in the field, without the assistance of a mechanic." Nothing 
can, more forcibly than this, show the main objections to the 
English Implements. They were most admirably got up, highly 
finished, well calculated to do their work, but were in most cases 
too complicated to be managed by an ordinary laborer ; and con- 
nected with this was, the price of most of them, far beyond the 
means of ordinary farmers. The outlay for a complete sett of 



No. 126.] 79 

English implements for a farm, of from three to five hundred acres, 
would amount to a very large sum ; much more tliau was desira- 
ble in any case ; and most of which might be obviated by more 
simply arranged implements, equally effective. 

In regard to the merits of the English implements which were 
tried in the month of April, previous to my arrival and Ijefore 
the exhibition opened, I of course have no means of judging 
from the trial itself; but the sub-Jurors who made the trial, 
were gentlemen familiar with the English implements and the 
wants of the English farmer, and selected from those on trial such 
as they deemed best adapted for general use in that country, and from 
such opportunities as I had to ascertain their merits, I have no doubt 
they judged wisely. 

I give the cut of Busby's plow, which was decided by the 
English Jurors as being the best of their plows, and was in- 
cluded, with other implements exhibited by him, in the Council 
Medal award. To no other plow from England was this dis- 
tinction given. This plow is a very good representation of 
the plows shown and for which prizes were awarded. The price 
of this plow is £4,10.0— about S21.60. 




The following remarks from an English Journal, in review of 
the plows on exhibition, are far more just than the notices usually 
taken of the foreign contributions, and I give it entire^ as in the 
main, the subject is treated with great fairness, and with a com- 
mendable regard to the merits of American implements. 

"In the Zollverein, Dr. C. Sprenger and M. H. Hartman exhib- 
ited ten interesting models of German Agriculture, several of 



80 [Assembly 

which are novel in their character. Among them are, the model 
of a plow with sixteen shares ; a sub-soil plow, adapted for plow- 
ing from 18 to 22 inches; a Pomeranian fan plow, and a Belgian 
plow. A model of an apparently good implement is shown by 
the Agricultural Society of Darmstadt. The Belgian plows dis- 
played, appear somewhat heavy, they are strongly and stoutly 
made, but show a want of finish. 

" Several plow^s are shown in the Austrian department, from the 
manufactory of Agricultural implements of Prince F. Von Lob- 
kowitz, which are stated to be the inventions of the Chevalier Von 
Infield, the manager of the works ; many parts of the implements 
appear open to grave objections, while in several instances un- 
doubted improvements might be pointed out. In the absence of 
any data, however, we are unable to form any opinion upon their 
merits ; as a whole, they do not tend to convey a very good opi- 
nion of the state of Agricultural mechanism in Austria. (On a 
subsequent trial of these plows, they were found to be very de- 
fective in their work.) 

, " On the foreign side, the department which makes the best show 
of plows, is that occupied by the United States ; and the imple- 
ments exhibited possess many strong points of contrast, even with 
all others in fact, that are put forward for competition. Without 
entering into the question of the comparative merit of European 
and American plows, the satisfactory solution of which is to be 
found in actual use only, we will briefly describe those which 
have been furnished by Boston and New-York exhibitors, these 
two sections having made up mainly the Agricultural portion of 
the United States division of the exhibition. 

" These -plows are made from patterns of peculiar construction, 
and are of great variety in size, form, fixture, and adaptation to 
different conditions of soil and modes of culture. The wood part 
of these implements is in most cases made by machinery, and can 
be readily taken apart for repairs, or put up for conveyance to 
distant parts. The timber is, in nearly all cases, a second growth 



No. 126.] $1 

white oak, of peculiar toughness. Tlie iron used, is composed of 
an admixture of several kinds, producing a metal of greater 
strength and durability than the ordinary iron, and which will 
endure the chilling process, applied to the point of the share and 
the base of the landside, with safety. The mold board, land-side 
and point of some of these plows are ground and polished, and 
coated with blue varnish, making them resemble blue steel, to 
prevent rusting. They are also better fitted for adhesive soils by 
this process, the dirt being prevented from sticking upon them, 
and impeding their progress. 

" Among the plows exhibited, are the root-breaker, sward, stubble, 
center-draught, corn, double mould board, ditching, side-hill, &c., 
&c. They are of various sizes, and are calculated for all kinds of 
soils. Some are intended to have the common, some the Scotch 
clevis ; some have the draught-rod, and others the crane clevis at- 
tached, so that the team can walk on the sward instead of a wet 
furrow, or so that the plow can run close by the side of a fence or 
ditch. The advantages claimed for many of these plows are, that 
they are smoother and better made, and more durable and cheaper 
than the common plow in use ; that they work much more effect- 
ually, cutting a deeper, wider, more even and truer furrow : and 
that they will do their work with less expenditure of team power. 
They will also pulverize the earth as they lift and turn it over, 
thus effecting that minute and general separation of the particles 
of the soil, which is so essential in preparing it for the ready ad- 
mission of the rootlets of the plants, and enabling them to draw 
their food from every portion of it. 

One principle alluded to above, in these plows, is too important to 
be passed lightly over. From the complicated structure of the 
plow, and the manner in which the draught must be applied to it, 
many misconceptions have arisen as to the true operation, and proper 
application of this draught. Too little is understood of the princi- 
ple involved in this, to enable the plowman to attach his team and 
arrange his clevis so that the instrument shall do its work, witli the 
least force and power. The draught is not the end in view, but 

F.— 1852. 



S3 [Assembly 

merely the means by which the end is accomplished — the former be- 
ing made to subserve the latter -, so that if it be not rightly applied, 
good work can not easily be done. If, for example, the plow 
inclines out of the ground too much, or takes too wide or too 
narrow a furrow slice — both evils usually arising from a wrong 
application of the draught — the plowman must exert a force to 
direct it properly, in addition to that which is required to over- 
come the inequalities of the soil ; while, on the contrary, if the 
draught be rightly applied, the plow will move so accurately as 
not only to perform good work, with more ease to both plowman 
and team, but in soil free from obstruction, even without being 
guided. This application of the draught to the plow, is claimed 
to be superior in the American plows to that in any others. This 
claim of superiority can be easily tested by the application of the 
dynamometer — an instrument made for measuring the amount of 
power employed ; and we understand that the exhibitors are will- 
ing for a trial of competition whenever tliis shall be allowed, as 
one of the elements of excellence. In a recent and carefully 
conducted trial in the United States, upon the merits of plows, it 
was found that a diiference of power even among the best and 
most modern inventions existed to the extent of more than one- 
sixth— that is, as 412 lbs. to 596 lbs.* 

" The American Side-Hill, or '' Starbuck" plows we understand, 
aie being used here with much acceptance. They are so con- 
structed that the mold-board can be instantly changed from one 
side to the other, which enables the plowman to perform the work 
horizontally upon side-hills, going back and forth on the same 
side, and turning all the furrow slices, with great accuracy down- 
wards. They are employed also for level plowing, as the work 
leaves the field without any center-dead or finishing furrow^, and 
without the banks or ridges from turning two furrows towards each 
other. They also save labor by allowing the team to turn short 
about at the end of the furrow instead of obliging it to travel 
across the wide ends of each land in the field. For plowing down 
the banks of ditches they are the only plow that will turn the fur- 

* Note.— In the trial had in this State in June, 1850, on stiff clay soil, the furrow 7 
inches deep by 10 inches wide— the difference was from 380 lbs. to 560 lbs. 



No, 126,] 83 

ro^^{s from the ditch, thus carrying the earth upon the level 
ground. 

"Althougn the number of each kind of agricultural implements 
exhibited from the United States is small, the variety is very con- 
siderable. The remaining specimens include harrows, rakes, hoes, 
potatoe hooks, (a good invention to save the potatoe from injury 
in uncovering the soil,) scythes, forks, shovels, spades, fanning 
mills, (one especially of a new and valuable kind,) grain reapers, 
mowing machines, seed-sowers, axes, kc. Of the latter article, as 
we should expect from a country where a skill is obtained in the 
felling of trees by the backwoodsman which is unknown elsewhere, 
there is an excellent contribution, formed and finished with a de- 
gree of perfection which leaves the Americans nothing to learn in 
this portion of their business and little to fear from competition." 

By an arrangement of the Royal Commissioners wdth the Royal 
Agricultural Society of England the trial of agricultural imple- 
ments was put in charge of a Jury, appointed or nominated by 
them, and the trial took place in the month of April, before the 
exhibition was opened and before many of the implements had 
reached London. Why this was so arranged I did not learn. 

The gentleman who at that time had charge of the United States 
department very properly declined having our implements tried, 
as there were no persons present representing them or who w^ere 
familiar with their use. The trial at this time, only included the 
English implements and a few from Belgium. 

Tfial of Ptoses at Hounslow. — Some time after the exhibition was 
opened, and after the awards on the English implements had been 
made by the Jury, application was made by Jurors of three foreign 
powers : Barron Mertens de Ostin of Belgium, Prof. Moll of France, 
and B. P. Johnson, United States, for a trial of the foreign plows 
with the English prize plows, the draught to be tested by the 
Dynamometer. This application was successful, so far as a trial 
was concerned. The plows of each nation were judged separately. 



84 [Assembly 

and an opportunity was thus aiforded those present to compare the 
work of the several plows, and form their own opinions in relation 
to their merits. Tlie trial of the plows from France, United States, 
Belgium, Canada, Germany , Bohemia and Austria, together with the 
English plows, was had at Hounslow, a few miles from London, on 
the 1 9th of July. There were twenty-one plows tried from foreign 
countries and five English plows, one more than those to which the 
prize had been awarded, belonging to Ransoms & May, of Ipswich, 
which, not being entered in time for the first trial, was then excluded. 

As the chairman of the Jury, Hon. Mr. Pusey, was not present 
at the trial at Hounslow, and has not alluded to it particularly, in 
his report, it may not be deemed inappropriate to give a some- 
what full account of the trial. 

From my notes, taken at the time of the trial, I give the order 
in which the plows were tried and the impression made as to 
the work of each, and the awards of the Jurors. 

No. 1 — French plow, with large wheels nearly as large as the 
fore-wheels of a wagon, with a single short handle. This plow 
worked badly, was very difficult to manage, and although the 
patentee of the plow was present, he found it extremely difficult 
to keep it in the ground. It operated without a person to hold, 
being governed by the wheels. It was adjudged as of little value. 

No. 2— Starbuck's plow No. C. Troy, N. Y. This plow cut 
the requisite depth with a good sole to the furrow ; but the fur- 
row slice was wider than that required ; in every other respect, 
the work was well done. 

No. 3 — Prouty & Mears, No. 40, Boston Center Draught. This plow 
worked well in every respect, and turned a good furrow slice, 
though the English Jurors thought it did not lay the slice flat 
enough ; but in the kind of soil in which the trial was made, the 
breaking of the furrow slice and thus pulverizing the soil, was a 
decided advantage. 



No, 126,] 85 

No. 4 — Talbot's Frencli Plow, with wheels. This operated bet- 
ter than No, 1 , and did good work ; it was rather too complicated, 
thougli an arrangement by which the fore carriage was raised or 
lowered without stopping the plow, was convenient. No. 5 — 
Another French plow, very indifferent and was rejected. 

No. 6 — Rogers' Cast-steel American Plow. This worked indiffe- 
rently and could not be brought within the requirements. 

No. 7. — Starbuck's Troy No. 4 with coulter on share. This plow 
was without a wheel ; it performed its work well, was of very 
light draught. The bottom of the furrow not quite as even as 
No. 2, 

No. 8. — A Belgian plow, which was very rudely made and 
worked very indifferently, was rejected. 

No. 9— A. B, Allen & Co. of New- York, plow No. 20. This 
plow worked well, cut a good furrow, though wider than the re- 
quirement. 

No. 10. — Belgian Plow. This was a short plow, that did good 
work and was of very light draught. 

No. 1 1 . — Canada Cast Iron Plow. This was an Iron Beam Plow, 
very short — its work did not answer the requirements. No, 12, 
Flecks Wilkie Scotch Plow, from Montreal, This plow did good 
Scotch work — ^but as the sole of the furrow was uneven, the Jurors 
did not approve of the manner in which its work was performed. 

No. 13. — Another Belgian Plow, very defective in its work. No. 
14, — A Belgian Turn-Wrest Plow, governed by a spring on the 
top of the beam, so that it could be very easily turned by the 
holder, while the team was coming about. The mold-board was 
convex. It did very good work, and its draught was light. 

No. 15. — French Plow very indifferent, and work badly done. 



S6 [Assembly 

No. 16. — A Belgian Plow, tried in April, and on this trial per- 
formed very well — the draught light. No. 17. — Belgian — ^similar 
somewhat to No. 14, but not as good. 

No. 18. — ^Plow from Netherlands — very plain in its appearance, 
but operated remarkably well. Its furrow was quite equal to any 
tried. Its draught light, and the plow very easy to hold. 

No. 19. — Bohemian Plow. — This plow had a square sheet iron 
mold board — could only be worked in very light sandy soils — and 
entirely failed in the trial. 

No. 20 and 21. — Austrian Plows — very defective, and their 
work bad — rejected. 

The English plows tried, were Busby's two or four horse ; How- 
ard's XX ; Ball's ; Hensman & Sons' four horse ; and Ransoms' Plow. 
These all laid their furrow slice with great neatness, almost entirely 
unbroken, the teams guided by two men, generally at the very 
slowest pace. 

The Jurors present at the trial, consisted of Captain Shelly, 
Mr. Miles, and Mr. Hammond, English Jurors ; Baron Mertens 
d'Ostins, Belgium; Professor T. Moll, France; B. P. Johnson, 
United States. The Jurors awarded a Prize Medal to Prouty & 
Mears, U. S. Center Draught Plow; No. 4, Talbot Brothers, French 
No. 18, Jenkin, Netherlands ; No. 10, Delstanche, Belgian plow. 
The awards were made, without reference to the comparative me- 
rits of the plows of the different nations, which were tried. 



No. 126.] 87 

Prouty k Mears' Plow. N'o. 40. Price §12. 50. 




Previous to the trial of our implements, a very erroneous idea 
generally prevailed among those who visited the Exhibition, as to 
what they could perform. They were so different from the En- 
glish plows, so light in tlieir structure, and so much shorter, the 
impression was very general, that they would not succeed. The 
following description of our plows, as compared with the English 
implements was given during the Exhibition, in the leading Agri- 
cultural Monthly Magazine published in England. 

After describing the defects of the implements exhibited from 
the Continent, the writer remarks, " This is also particulary no- 
ticeable in the American plows, which with the exception of the 
varnish and high finish, reminded us of the prints in agricultural 
works intended to represent plows that were used several hundred 
years ago. They also show us that the Americans must have a ve- 
ry friable soil to cultivate, or that their tillage operations are ex- 
ecuted in a very imperfect manner." 

It was under all these disadvantages that the trial was had ; but 
the result proved, that what had been affirmed by us of our plows, 
was practically demonstrated to be true. There were present at 
the trial, a large number of practical farmers and land proprietors 
who felt a deep interest in the result ; for if the American plows 
succeeded — their cheapness, as well as lightness and diminished 
draught — were objects of no small moment to the English farmer, 
struggling with exorbitant rents, taxes, and poor rates, as well as 



88 [Assembly 

with the foreign competition induced by Free Trade, which called 
for every possible improvement that would cheapen the produc- 
tion of grain crops. 

The trial ground was a moderately stiff soil, with a light sod, 
and the depth and width of furrow was fixed at 6 and 9 inches. 
When the first American plow was brought on to the ground for 
trial, the interest manifested was very great. A large number of 
farm laborers as well as farmers were gathered around the plow, 
and the expressions I heard from many were — " that plow won't go 
in ;" " that plow will break ;" and other remarks of a similar 
character. I had an American with me to hold the plow — ^but the 
gentleman upon whose land the trial was made, advised that his 
plowman who was well versed in his work, should hold the first 
one — and I consented. The plow was set to the required depth 
and width, as near as it could be done, and the team started. The 
plowman, unused to the plow, pressing his whole weight upon the 
handles, to keep it in^ was desired to let the plow take its own 
course, merely steadying it, and it went through its work with 
great ease, both to the plowman and team. As we returned to 
the starting point, it was settled that our plow would do its work. 

We tried several American plows : Starbuck's, of Troy ; Prouty 
& Mears', of Boston ; Aliens', of New- York, and one from Philadel- 
phia. The work was well done, the sole of the furrow was as well 
finished as by any plow upon the ground and the only objection made 
by the Jurors, to the work of our plows was, that the furrow slice 
was broken too much. It was evident to those familiar with plow- 
ing such soil, that this was an advantage in favor of our plows, as 
a stiff soil needed to be broken to prepare it for the seed, and if 
not done by the plow, it would require much more labor with the 
harrow or cultivator to prepare it; and this was sustained by 
the judgment of practical farmers on the gound, whose attention 
was particularly called to the work done by our plows and who 
admitted that it could be prepared for the seed at much less ex- 
pense and labor, than when the furrow slice was laid over smoothly 
and unbroken. 



No. 126.] 89 

An extensive English farmer, Mr. Peter Love, of Northampton- 
shire, who has liacl in use upon liis farm American plows, for several 
years, published an article soon after the trial of plows at Houns- 
low, upon the proper manner of plowing, in which he strikingly 
exhibits the difference between the English and American plows, and 
the superiority of the manner in which our plows do their work, 
breaking in pieces the furrow^ slices, as he suggests it should be done. 

Mr. Love remarks — " If it be the fact that the primary object of 
cultivation for the production of the various agricultural crops is a 
well pulverized soil and porous subsoil, then the farmer ought to 
draw out the ingenuity of our agricultural mechanics, by giving pri- 
zes for those plow^s that will invert and break in pieces the soil with- 
out smearing the under strata, and most effectually pulverize the 
greatest quantity of land a given depth with the least amount of 
power, instead, as the present practice is by all our agricultural 
societies, awarding prizes to those plows that cut out a furrow with 
all three of its cut sides well smoothed and smeared up, and turned 
over in as unbroken a state as possible, so that it will shine from 
one end to the other like a well moulded piece of concrete, and 
the bottom of the furrow well polished over by the friction of the 
broad-soled land-side and wrest, thus rendering the under strata al- 
most impervious either to air or water ; indeed, it is no uncommon 
thing to see land that has been well drained, as well as that 
which is naturally dry, dressed up in a suit of corduroy, so as to 
leave the furrows frequent enough to allow the rain that falls to 
fertilize the earth, an opportunity of washing away all the virtues 
of the manure that has been applied, to the nearest river. 

" If we could have a plow so made that it would, in the act of 
inverting the furrow slice, break it into pieces, and pass over the 
bottom of the fiuTow without the friction of any smooth surface 
of iron or other material being drawn over, closing up all the 
pores and fissures in the under strata, I think there is little doubt 
that such a plow's cultivation would approach, when performed 
at equal depths, fork cultivation. 



90 [Assem: 



ELY 

'^ Let all farmers of those countries who go to the Great Exhibi 
tion unprejudicially, look carefully into the merits and demerits of 
the various plows used in these and other nations, and inquire why 
there are such differences in the conformation of the different parts, 
of, not only the plows used in the different districts of these 
countries, but in those of other nations, where there are, I may 
say daily, some of our practical farmers settling ; and yet they 
adopt the use of the plows of that country, and we know by 
experience that in the majority of instances of farmers leaving 
one county for another, in these countries, they take their plows 
with them, and, in not a few cases, they are found superior to 
those in general use in that locality. It would appear that these 
foreign plows are so constructed that they can plow up the preju- 
dices of our brother farmers, (who have been obliged to depart 
with the wreck of their fortunes to the Far West, after experiencing 
some severe lessons in the school of economy,) or else we would 
have many instances of some of them sending here for plows and 
using them after they are taken there ; but " it is a well known 
fact that those who take plows with them in but few^ cases use 
them at all ; and if used, it is but for a very short time, as the 
comparative merits of the state of the land at sowing-day satisfies 
the prejudices against those plows used in the new country. And 
after a few weeks' growth of the crop, the most prejudiced are con- 
vinced by the superior appearance in the more full development 
of crop, especially in a dry season." This I received in answer to 
a letter written to a brother who is in the Far West and who was 
a prize plow man before he went there and who was one of the great 
promoters of the fine, clean, well-smoothed-up furrow slice system." 

These very judicious remarks of Mr. Love show the difference 
between our system of plowing and the English, and the advan- 
tages which would result from the use of our plows ; and which 
was evident at the trial, so far as the pulverization of the soil and 
a porous subsoil was concerned. 

But a most satisfactory evidence of the adaptation of our plows 
to the work required there, resulted from a trial of one of Star- 



No. 126.] 



91 



buck's Troy plows, with a single horse, in the same field, with the 
same width and depth of furrow, as was required on the trial. 
An English farmer made the trial himself. The plow was drawn 
by one of the large English larm horses, with entire ease, and 
when he had plowed so as to satisfy all present, that one horse 
would do the work, even in soil of the kind we were engaged in 
at the trial, it was remarked by many of the persons present, 
that " that is the plow the English farmer wants." This plow 
was sold on the ground, and ten more were ordered in the very 
same neighborhood, and a very large number have since been 
sent to England as well as the Continent, " as the American plows 
found great favor among the English farmers, on account of their 
extraordinary cheapness and lightness of draught." 



Owing to the weather, which was very soft, the rain falling most 
of the time, the plows were not tested by the Dynamometer until 
a subsequent day, and the following is the statement of the trial, 
reported by Baron Mertens, on behalf of the Sub-jury, consisting 
of Baron Mertens, Col. Challoner and B. P. Johnson: 








Points 


_ . ___ 


Plows. 


Name. 


of resist- 
ance. 


Remarks. 

• 


1. Belgian, 


Odeurs, 


527 


Land very hard going up hill, 
coming down in Balls fur- 
row. 


2. American, . 


Hall & Spears, 


530 


Land hard. 


3. English,.... 


Busby, 


540 


Land worked well. 


4. French, .... 


Bodin, 


546-A 




5. Holland, .. . 


Jenken, 


5501 




6. Belgian, . . . 


Delstanche, . . 


568 


No plowman to use this well. 


7. English,.... 


Howard, 


569 


Hard land. 


8. American, . 


Prouty&Mears 


579 


u 


9. French,. . . . 


Talbot, 


580 


u 


10. English,.... 


Ball, 


646 


Very hard ground ; very good 
furrow. 


11. do 


Ransoms&May 


659 


Very hard piece of land. 



The ground on which the trial was had was very hard and stub- 
born, and the average power of draught was high. 



02 [Assembly 

It may not be uninteresting to give the opinions of the English 
farmers as to our ploTVS after they had been tried, and in use in 
England, which appeared, since the exhibition, in the proceedings 
of a farmers' club, in the very same journal which had said " that 
they reminded them of the prints of plows that were used several 
hundred years ago." The subject for discussion before the Tor- 
rington Farmers' Club was ^'Agricultural Implements and Horses." 
In the course of the discussion the heavy implements, carts, &c., 
in use in England, were the subjects of remark, and one gen- 
tleman, Mr. Lear, said, as in contrast to their heavy imple- 
ments : " I will just draw your attention to the American plows, 
which perhaps most of you have seen at the exhibition. That 
they have been pretty well ridiculed, I know ; but that does not 
detract at all from their value ; and I am inclined to think that 
they are well adapted for the work they are intended for. The 
turn-furrow is exceedingly well shaped, and in fact it is a busi- 
ness looking thing altogether." Another gentleman, Mr. Battock, 
says : " Mr. Lear had spoken of the American plow seen at the 
exhibition, but if they had any inclination to inspect one of those 
plows they might see one at Maj. Sandham's brick yard, and also 
some work it had performed. He (Mr. B.) was perfectly satisfied 
of its usefulness on light soils for preparing the Barley and Turnip 
season. It required but one horse to draw it! (Hear, hear. 
That's the sort we want.) He was aware this could not be done 
on heavy stubborn land, (with one horse,) but for the purpose he 
had mentioned it appeared to him an excellent article." 

Reaping Machines. — The favorable results of the trial of the 
plows, called more especially the attention of the public who visi- 
ted the exhibition, to the value of the American Implements. On 
the return of the plows to the Palace, the one upon which the 
award was placed, as well as the others, excited much interest, 
and the reaping machines, which were soon to be tried, excited 
far more attention than before. The impression now seemed to 
prevail that these American Implements may, after all, do what 
has been promised. 



No. 126.] 03 

Trial of the Reapers at Tip-tree Hall. — Succeeding the trial 
of the plows came that of the Reapers, on tlie 24th of July. There 
were three machines on exhibition. McCormick's Virginia Reap- 
er, Hussey's American Reaper, and an English Reaper, made after 
Hussey's, but which, I believe, had not been tried. The place 
selected for trial was at Tip-tree Hall, Kelvedon, Essex, the farm 
of Mr. J. J. Mechi, about forty-five miles from town. The day 
selected w^as the annual gathering of gentlemen at the farm of Mr. 
Mechi to inspect his crops and method of farming, which is exci- 
ting much interest in England. The day proved a very unfavora- 
ble one, as it rained during the whole day. The wheat upon 
which the trial was to be made was quite green and remarkably 
heavy, and everything as unfavorable as could well be. There 
were from 150 to 200 gentlemen present, many of w^hom had come 
upwards of 300 miles to witness the trial. 

The Sub-jury assigned to conduct the trial was composed of 
Colonel Challoner, one of the English Jurors, Baron Merten d'- 
Ostins, of Belgium, and B. P. Johnson, United States, and W. 
Fisher Hobbs, Esq., though not a member of the Jury, was present 
by invitation, at the trial, The first machine tried w^as Hussey's, 
which did not succeed, as it clogged very soon, and passed over 
the grain without cutting it. After this had been tried two or 
three times and failed, it was proposed by one of the Jurors that 
no further trial be made by the Reapers — but it was insisted that 
the other American Reaper should be tried. The gentlemen present 
expected it, and I was not willing they should leave the ground 
without satisfying those present that the American Reapers would 
perform the work which it had been affirmed they could do. Mr. 
McCormick's Reaper was then brought up, managed by D. C. 
McKenzie, of Livingston county, in this State, who is entitled to 
no little credit for the successful result of the trial. This was a 
moment, as may well be imagined, of no ordinary interest. One 
reaper had not operated as was expected — another, and the only 
remaining American reaper to be tried, was now to be tested. The 
gentlemen present were anxious that something should succeed 
that would cheapen the gathering of their crops — but from expres- 



94 [Assembly 

sions made around me, I was satisfied they had no confidence in the 
reaper. Tliey said, after the first trial, " It is as we expected — 
they will not work until perfected by an English mechanic." The 
laboring men, too, when the first one was started, seemed perfectly 
astonished, fearing their vocation was gone — ^but when it failed to 
work, they brightened up and would doubtless have given vent 
to their feelings, if another one had not been found ready for the 
trial, and might succeed. It can well be imagined that the Amer- 
icans, of whom only three were present, beside myself, were in 
quite as great a state of excitement as the others. The machine 
was started. After it had passed its length, the clean path made 
by the reaper — the grain falling from its side, showed that the 
work was done, and the reaper was successful. After proceeding 
as far as was deemed necessary, the team was stopped, and Mr. 
Mechi jumped upon the platform and said, "Gentlemen, here is a 
triumph for the American Reaping Machine. It has, under all its 
disadvantages, done its work completely. Now let us, as English- 
men, show them that we appreciate this contribution for cheapening 
our agriculture, and let us give the Americans three hearty English 
cheers." They were given, and with a fourth added, satisfying 
all that they were heartily given. Another trial was then had, and 
the reaper timed — cutting, in 70 seconds, 74 yards in length, entirely 
clean, and to the satisfaction of the Jurors and the gentlemen present. 
The Jurors recommended the award of a Medal to Mr. McCormick. 

The result of this trial gave a new turn to affairs, and on the 
return of the Reapers to the Palace, crowds were continually ex- 
amining them, and the American department from this time to 
the closing of the exhibition, was no longer the " Prairie ground," 
but was thronged with inquiring visitors. The London Times, 
whose Agricultural reporter was present, gave a very full account 
of this successful trial ; and in an article published soon after the 
trial, it was said, " That every practical success of the season be- 
longed to the Americans, their consignments showed poorly at 
first, hut came out well upon trial. ^^ And again, " it will be re- 
membered that the American department was the poorest and 
least interesting of all foreign countries. Of late, it has justly 



I 



No. 126.] 95 

assumed a position of the first importance, as having brought to 
the aid of our distressed agriculturists^ a machine, wliich if it re- 
alizes the anticipations of competent judges, will amply remunerate 
England for all her outlay connected with the Great exhibition. 
The reaping machine from the United States is the most valuable 
contribution from abroad, to the stock of our previous knowledge, 
that we have yet discovered." 

Previous to the trial of the reaper, the same observations as to 
the value of the reaper if successful, were made to me by several 
distinguished agriculturists of Great Britain. An attempt has 
been made since the close of the Exhibition, to show that the 
reaping machine is an English invention, and that those from tliis 
country are mere imitations of theirs. It requires no great sagac- 
ity however to perceive, that so far as grain reapers were a prac- 
tical reality^ they were unknown in Great Britain, until the suc- 
cessful trial of those from this country. For surely the London 
Times, ever posted up on every thing that pertains to the advance 
of England, would not have hazarded the assertion, " that the 
American Reaper will amply remunerate England for all her outlay 
connected with the exhibition ; " if, England had anything like a 
living, working reaper , known among her distressed agriculturists. 
The truth is, that until the American reapers were exhibited with 
their improvements, reaping by machinery was not even spoken of 
among the agriculturists of Great Britain, so far as I had an oppor- 
tunity of ascertaining. The unbelief in the success of the reapers 
must satisfy every one, that there was no expectation in England 
of a reaper to do their work unless ours succeeded. If England 
had a practical working reaper in use, one would have supposed 
that it w^ould have been on exhibition at the Palace, and that 
Garret, one of the most celebrated implement makers in England, 
would have exhibited an English grain reaper, instead of one 
copied from Hussey's American reaper, and which he is now man- 
ufacturing and vending as the American Reaper. 

The late Chancellor of the Exchequer, Earl Granville, one of 
the Royal Commissioners, who devoted himself constantly to his 



96 [Assembly 

duties as Commissioner, and to whom the exhibition is greatly 
indebted for its success ; in speaking of the success of the Ameri- 
cans at the exhibition, alludes to " two other American gentlemen, 
who, are at present teaching us how to cut corn^ an act which we 
have been practicing for some hundreds of years in this Island, hut 
of which it appears^ we are ignorant of the first principles^ 

Subsequent to the trial at Mr. Mechi's, another trial was had 
before the Chairman of the Jury, Hon. Mr. Pusey, Mr. Miles, M. 
P. and Baron Hlubeck, of Austria ; I give the report of Mr. Pusey, 
the Chairman, in which it will be noticed, that he speaks of an En- 
glish machine, as too intricate, and that it had fallen into disuse 
50 years since. 

Mr. Pusey's Keport. — " At the opening of this century it 
was thought that a successful reaping machine had been in- 
vented, and a reward was voted by Parliament, to its author. 
The machine was employed here and abroad, hut from its in- 
tricacy fell into disuse. Another has lately been devised in one 
of our colonies, which cuts oif the heads of the corn, but leaves 
the straw standing, a fatal defect in an old settled country, 
where the growth of corn is forced by the application of dung. 
Our farmers may well, therefore, have been astonished by an 
American implement which not only reaped their wheat, but 
performed the work with the neatness and certainty of an old 
and perfect machine. Its novelty of action reminded one see- 
ing the first engine run on the Liverpool and Manchester Rail- 
way in 1830. Its perfection depended on its being new only in 
England, but in America the result of repeated disappointment, 
untired perseverance. The United States Patent Commissioner 
says of Mr. McCormick's reaping machine : — 

•' In agriculture it is, in my view, as important, as a labor saving 
device, as the Spinning Jenny and Power Loom in Manufactures. 
It is one of those great and valuable inventions which commence 
a new era in the progress of improvement, and whose beneficial 
influence is felt in all coming time." 



No. 126.] 07 

" Eesides difficulties common to all inventions, the machine 
could be tested but lor two or three weeks in each year when a 
defect was discovered, before the remedy was applied to the in- 
strument the harvest was over, and the new form had to wait a 
W'hole year for its trial, when some fresh failure required a fresh 
year's postponement of final success. 

"As to the practical working of the reaper, two horses drew it at 
the trial very easily round the outside of the crop until they 
finished in the center, showing that they could easily cut 1 5 acres 
in 10 hours. One man drives sitting and another stands on the 
machine to rake. It is hard work for him, and the men ought 
sometimes to change places. The straw left behind at the trial 
w^as cut very regularly ; lower than by reaping, but higher than 
by fagging. The inventor stated that he had a machine which 
would cut it two inches low^er. This is the point, I should say, 
to attend to, especially for autumn cleaning. Though it seems 
superfluous to bring this machine to the test of economy, we may 
estimate the present cost of cutting 1 5 acres of wheat, at an aver- 
age of 9s. per acre, to be <£6,15s. Deduct for horses and men 10s. 
3d, and for binding 2s. 6d per acre, the account will stand thus : 

Average cost of reaping 15 acres, 9s <£6,15.0 

Horses and men for Reaper, <£0,10.0 

Binding, 15 acres, 2s.6d, 1,17.6 2,7.6 

Saving per acre 5s.lOd, X4,7.6 



" The saving in wages, however, would of course be an imper- 
fect test of the reaper's merits, since in bad seasons and late dis- 
tricts it may often enable the farmer to save the crop. 

"Since this statement was written, fresh trials have been made 
of Mr. McCormick's reaper, as also of one of Mr. Hussey ; and as 
the award under the Commission has been called in question, it is 
right that some statement should be made on the subject. In the 
first trial, at Tiptree Hall, Mr. McCormick's reaper worked well ; 

G.— 1852. 



98 [Assembly 

the other did not act at all. As the corn, however, was then green, 
it was thought right to make further trial, and special leave was 
obtained from the Council of Chairmen to give two Council Medals, 
one to each reaper, if on further trial their respective perform- 
ances should be found to deserve one. The object in our second 
trial was not to decide which was the best implement, but whether 
either, or both, were sufficiently good to receive the Council Medal. 
Mr. McCormick's in this trial worked, as it has since worked at 
Cirencester College and elsewhere, to the admiration of practical 
farmers, and therefore received a Council Medal. Mr. Hussey's 
sometimes became clogged, as in the former trial at Tiptree, and 
therefore could not possibly obtain that distinction. 

" Further trials, however, have since been made by other per- 
sons elsewhere, in which Mr. Hussey's machine worked well 5 and 
one of our colleagues, Mr. Thompson, informs me that it had been 
used for a week by a practical farmer, on his own farm, who was 
perfectly satisfied. Its inventor states that at the trials for the 
commission the failure arose from a mal-adjustment ; and Mr. 
Thompson informs me that at one of the subsequent trials a simi- 
lar mal-adjustment impeded its action, until Mr. Hussey arrived 
to set it right. I am bound, then, to express my own individual 
opinion that the merits of the machine are such as to entitle it to 
a Council Medal, and my regret that it should formally be dis- 
qualified to receive one. 

" We have, then, two good American reaping machines. Their 
respective merits time will discover ; but there is one caution which 
applies to the introduction of both into England. They both cut 
by a sidelong vibration, the frequency of which must be deter- 
mined by the number of straws to be cut in passing over a given 
space. Now, as the acreable yield of England, is nearly double that 
of A merica, our straw, it is probable, stands much thicker than 
in the crops these reapers have been accustomed to deal with, so 
that both imple rents, when applied to heavy crops must be 
adapted to the superior farming they will have to encounter. At 
present we only know that McCormick's machine is best for Barley 



No. 126.] 



99 




and Oats, when not intended to be bound up in sheaf; Hussej's 
for corn laid by the weather or standing upon steep ridges." 



100 [Assembly 

GENERAL REMARKS. 

I have dwelt more at length on this class, on account of its im- 
portance, not only in the exhibition itself, but, for the reason that 
it was, so far as the exhibition from this country was concerned, 
the most important in its results. Until the trial of the American 
implements, and the most triumphant success of McCormick's 
Reaper, the United States department was comparatively over- 
looked. But our triumph here, gave a new direction to public 
attention, and that part of our exhibition which previously had 
been slightly passed over, now attracted the notice of every 
visitor, and the press of England was prompt in admitting the 
complete and triumphant success of the Americans. It was no 
longer deemed necessary to say of our implements, '^ they may do 
for a new country," for the trial had satisfied the most prejudiced, 
that they were designed to advance the interests of the best cul- 
tivated countries of the old world, and " taught them how to cut 
corn by machinery, of whose first principles it appeared they were 
ignorant." 

The result of this trial was not unexpected to those Americans 
who were familiar with our implements, and to them was pecu- 
liarly gratifying, as placing our country in the position to which 
it was entitled and commanding that attention for our exhibi- 
tion, which was justly due to it, from the character of many of our 
articles, particularly those in the machinery and agricultural de- 
partments. 

In my account of the exhibition in this class, I have endeavored 
fairly to represent the merits of our implements, and am gratified, 
that their merits were publicly admitted and acknowledged by 
distinguished gentlemen from every quarter of the world, and the 
extensive demand for them in England and upon the Continent, 
shows, that practical, intelligent farmers, appreciate the contribu- 
tions we have made to the world's progress. 



No, 126.] 101 

• 

ENGLISH IMPLEMENTS. 

In the English Department, there were many very valuable ma- 
chines and implements that would prove highly useful in this coun- 
try. Their Scarifiers, Grubbers, Cultivators, and Clod Crushers, of 
various forms and sizes, which are greatly advantageous in bring- 
ing the land into proper tilth, and materially diminishing the 
expense, are very useful implements. The Horse Hoe, which is 
used for drilled crops, in removing the weeds and stirring up the 
land, is in use in many parts of England — and although at first 
sight it might appear doubtful whether it would answer in the 
young and tender crops — yet on trial, it has proved one of the 
most useful implements of the present day. It is adapted to all 
the prevailing modes of culture, either for cleaning crops drilled 
on a level surface, or on ridges — the axeltree of the wheels being 
movable at both ends, to suit the varied intervals between the 
rows of plants, and as each cutting hoe works on a separate and 
independent lever, the weeds are effectually destroyed, however 
uneven the surface, the hoes being kept at a uniform depth, by the 
means of regulating keys. The hoes penetrate to such a depth as 
to give fresh life and vigor to growing plants, by stirring the earth 
around them. It can be used for any kind of drilled crops. 
From ten to fifteen acres may be hoed in a day with a man, boy, 
and horse. Its steerage arrangement is such, as to be entirely 
under the control of the holder, and the hoes may be guided with 
the greatest precision, perfectly hoeing the intervals without 
injuring the plants. 

As the practice of drilling the crops is increasing in this State, 
it cannot be long before our farmers will appreciate the importance 
of extirpating the weeds — for few of our farmers, I imagine, will, 
for any length of time, feel that they can afford to grow weeds. I 
give a cut of this implement which will convey some idea of its 
construction. 



102 



[Assembly 




Garrett's Patent Horse Hoe. 
Of the Scarifiers, that called Earl Ducies Prize Drag Harrow, 
orlJLEY Scarifier and Cultivator, of which a cut is given, appears 
to be a very effective and highly useful implement. It has an iron 
frame fitted with five tines, each covering a space of eight inches, 
and so placed as to be two feet from each other : this, with their 
curved shape and length, prevents the drag clogging in the foulest 
weather. The points or grabbers are for breaking the land, and the 
broad shares for scarifying or working stubble land, with an extra 
set of steel shares for paring. The machine is quickly raised and 
lowered, by turning a handle, the axle of which has a worm fixed 
upon it J worked into the cranked axle of the back wheels. By sim- 
ply turning the handle to the right, the drag is lifted up, and to the 
left let down. A dial plate indicates the number of inches in or 
out of the ground. 



This implement is in very extensive use, and for working over 
stubble land, whether light or heavy land, and however full of 
//TTV s^ grass or weeds, will thoroughly pul- 
verize and clean it, and will, it is said, 
leave the land in a far better condition 
for a crop than by the ordinary method 
^^ of plowing and harrowing, and with a 
Uley Scarifier. very considerable saving of expense, 

performing the work of a drag and scarifier most successfully. It can 
be adopted here, I think, with advantage,and may be constructed at 
a price, probably, that will secure its introduction into practical use. 




No. 126.] 



103 



There were various drill machines, very perfect in their con- 
struction and arrangement, yet too complicated and expensive for 
introduction into this country. They do not possess any material 
advantages over our own drills, which are afforded at one-third 
the price of the best English drill. 



A drill called the " Suffolk Drill" which has been awarded 
many prizes in Eng- 
land, was fitted with 
a steerage arrange- 
ment that renders its 
work very perfect. A 
swing steerage in front 
guided by hand, ena- 
bles the man to keep 
the rows perfectly par- 
allel with the prece- 
ding course of the 
drill. This is done 
by the man's holding 
the steerage handle as I 
it is shown in the an- 
nexed cut, and keep- 
ing the small fore 
wheel in the track of 
the former large one. 
This insures perfect 
regularity, and pre- 
pares the whole field, 
so that the horse hoe 
can be used to great 
advantage and with- 
out injury to the grain. 
This arrangement could very easily be adapted to any of the other 
drills, and would greatly add to their usefulness. 




o 
Pi 

b 

2 



104 



[Assembly 



A Prize Medal was awarded for a Belgian Drill, which was a 
very simple one in its arrangement, the seed delivered by flat iron 
paddles and not by cups. The coulters are fixed to the beam, and do 
not work on levers, but a small coulter to cover in the seeds does. 
It is so arranged that the quantity of seed delivered can be varied 
without stopping the machine. As it costs only $12, it had cer- 
tainly advantages over many drills exhibited. 

Ransoms & May of Ipswich, England, exhibited a cheap drop drill, 
for depositing seed similar to a hand drill, at equal distances, which 
it accomplishes with great exactness. A Prize Medal was awarded, 
and it appeared to me for certain purposes superior to any exhibited. 
The feeding cups are so arranged that their action ceases when 
the machine stops. The quantity of the seed deposited may be 
varied from 3 J to 5 pecks per acre by a change of the cups. The 
depositors have a motion independent of the coulters, which enables 
them to adapt themselves to any inequality in tlie surface of the soil. 



A Hay Making machine, though somewhat complicated, has 
received the Prize from the Royal Agricultural Society, and is 



^UJJJ . 




HAY MAKING MACHINE. 



undoubtedly a very valuable improvement for England, and may 
be made useful in this country; one man can work it, and 
raise or lower it to its work instantly, and throw it in or out of 



No. 12G.] 105 

gear or reverse its action. It is claimed for it to do the work of 
twenty men, and from seeing it in use, I doubt not, it is a great 
labor-saving machine, and a very efficient helper in the field. 

Of manure distributors for liquid or solid manures, there was 
a very great variety, some of them very effective. One exhibited 
by Croskill, holding about eight bushels of manure, has a motive 
power which passes the manure to a revolving notched roller? 
which regulates its equal delivery in a dry or moist state without 
clogging, and is so arranged as to increase or decrease the quan- 
tity sown to any number of bushels per acre; price about $50. 

The Norwegian Harrow is used immediately after plowing. 
It breaks and pulverizes the furrow, leaving three or four inches 
depth of fine mold, admirably prepared for seed. It saves the 
use of the ordinary sized harrow, a very light implement only 
being used after sowing. It thoroughly pulverizes without consoli- 
dating the soil, and it prepares the roughest land, whether moist 
or dry, without clogging. This implement was originally intro- 
duced from Norway, has been much improved and is very valua- 
ble and effective one, and although too expensive, (costs $65.00,) 
for general use in this country, it seems very desirable for our 
stiff soils, and I have no doubt, it could be very much lessened in 
price here. Having seen it in use, and obtained the testimony of 
many practical farmers who have it on their farins, I cannot doubt 
its great utility. 



Croskill's Improved Norwegian Harrow. 



106 [Assembly 

A very valuable implement in use in England is Croskill's Rol- 
ler and Clod Crusher. It consists of cast metal discs or roller parts, 
placed loosely upon a round axle so as to revolve independently of 
each other. The outer surface of each roller part is serrated and has 
a series of side way projecting teeth, which act perpendicularly in 
breaking clods. The size, 6 feet wide by 2 J feet in diameter, con- 
sists of 23 roller parts. Each alternate ring is made larger in the 
eye, and in revolving causes an up and down motion along the 
entire surface of the roller, thereby increasing its power and effect- 
ing the best means of self cleansing. It is used only when the 
land is dry. When taken to the field, dig a hole under each tra- 
velling wheel, until the roller part rests UDon the ground, then 
take off the road wheels. 

By the use of this roller crops of Wheat, Turnips, Beets, &c., 
are annually grown in England upon land which without its use 
cannot be cultivated ; and a very beneficial effect is produced 
upon the grain plant by its seasonable application, and it causes a 
more healthy plant and a larger yield per acre. It ensures the de- 
struction of the wire- worm and the grub, which are so detrimental, 
often destroying the entire grain crop. Its use on many varie- 
ties of grass land is most beneficial. It works admirably. The 
number in use in Great Britain, in 1850, was about 2,500. 

I had an opportunity of witnessing this roller in use on several 
farms, and became satisfied of its great utility, and its introduction 
to this country, would prove of immense advantage to our farm- 
ers. The following testimonial from a practical Scotch farmer 
shows in what estimation it is held : 

" The deep indented points of this ponderous machine penetrate 
and crush the hardest clods; reduce big masses of clay baked soil 
into a fine mold, and rapidly converts many acres of land into the 
finest condition for the reception of grain or the smallest seeds. 
It is not only valuable as a pulverizer, but is unequalled as a 00771- 
pressing roller for rolling young grain crops when the plant is from 
three to eight inches out of the ground. The practice of driving 



No. 126.] 



107 



sheep over the fields to give solidity to the soil, is entirely obvia- 
ted by the use of the machine, as it is more equal, effective and 
rapid in its operations, like the action of a gardener who presses 
the soil with his fingers around the roots of the plant — while the 
action of smooth rollers is like placing the foot only upon the 
plant. It might be supposed that this implement is limited in its 
use only to stiff soils. This, however, is not the case, for, on 
light lands, where, from want of clay and finely divided matter to 
give body and firmness, the soil is too loose to carry wheat, and on 
soils too puffy to carry clover, the Clod Crusher used as a compres- 
sing roller, has produced the most valuable results, giving firmness 
and tenacity to the soil, aiding the plant to strike its roots firmly, and 
to produce a firmer, stronger and more healthy and fruitful plant." 



Another most important attending benefit on the use of the 
implement is, that the ravages of tlie wire worm and grub are 
most effectually arrested. By the indented points of this heavy 
machine, the slug is crushed to death, while the burrows made by 
the ^\ire worm from root to root are destroyed, the free working of 
this voracious enemy prevented, and the means of its support in- 
tercepted ; the natural consequence is proved to be a decrease ol 
the wire worm by starvation. I have dwelt more at length on 
this implement than I should have done, had I not deemed it a 
most valuable one to be brought into practical use. 




"^m 



9%-p.4/l^^ 



Croskill's Prize Roller. 
Price from §70 to $85. For the Norwegian Harrow and Prize 
Roller, a Council Medal was awarded Mr. Croskill. 



108 



[Assembly 



The Carts in use upon the farms in England where the im- 
proved ones, have been introduced, appeared to me very useful 
for farm purposes, and certainly worthy the attention of our farm- 
ers. Carts are constructed for a single horse, to carry 30 cwt. 
They are very convenient and prove, in every respect, very ser- 
viceable. Having been one of the Sub-jurors to whom was 
referred the carts, wagons, &c., on exhibition in the Agricultural 
Department, I was greatly gratified with the improvements w^hich 
have been made in them. There were, on exhibition, several of 
the ancient ones which still are common in every part of England, of 
very great weight, with hubs as large as those of ox carts with us, 
and in every respect, very cumbersome. The improved ones, of 
lighter make, and of less price, were, however, most prominent, 
and to those only were the prizes awarded. I give the cut of Mr. 
Busby-s Cart, which was conceded, by the Judges, as upon the 
whole, more correct in the principle of construction than any 
other on exhibition. This gives a very good idea of the cart 
arranged for field services — the arms and the wings are removed, 
w^hen it is desired, for the ordinary purposes of the farm. 



Having witnessed the operations of these carts, in various kinds 
of farm work, I am strongly inclined to the opinion that their 
introduction into more general use in our country, would be highly 
advantageous, both in point of economy and convenience. 




Busby's Cart. 
An American, for many years a resident in England, Mr. H. 
Pinkus, had on exhibition many of his inventions, among others, 
what was called his new system of Agricultural Tillage, by sta- 



No. 126.] 109 

tionary steam and atmospheric motive power, giving motion to 
plow shares and other implements by ropes from the engines in- 

termitingly stationary in the fields. 

This showed great ingenuity, though, 

as yet, it has not been reduced to 

practical use. 

There was exhibited also, another 
steam arrangement for plowing, in 
the English department, called Lord 
Willoughby DeEresby's steam plow, 
but as yet it has not been brought 
into practical operation, so as to de- 
termine its value. 

Fowler's Improved Draining 
Plow was shown, and one was also 
exhibited in operation a few miles 
from the exhibition. It is stated to 
execute any drainage above four feet 
deep, at less than half the cost of 
the present system, and without dis- 
turbing the surface soil. In com- 
mencing the work, the plow is taken 
to one end of the field, and to the 
other the capstan, off the drum of 
which is run a wire rope attached 
to the plow. The plug and coul- 
ter are then dropped into a hole 
prepared for them, and the drain 
pipes are threaded upon a rope at- 
tached to the back of the plug ; when 
the horses attached to the levers of 
the capstan, by walking around,wind 
the wire rope on the drum and pull 
the pipe forward with the drain 
pipes, which are thus laid, when the 
soil is suitable, free from stone, more 




110 [Assembly 

accurately than by hand. It has been in operation for a 
few years, and the improvements which have been made, as 
exhibited in the one on trial seemed to promise its practical 
adaptation for that country. It is thus referred to in the report 
in this class : ^' But for the American reapers, Mr. Fowler's 
draining plow would have formed the most remarkable feature in 
the Agricultural department of the Exhibition. Wonderful as it 
is, to see the standing wheat shorn levelly low by a pair of horses 
walking along its edge, it is hardly, if at all, less wonderful, nor 
did it excite less interest or surprise, among the crowd of spec- 
tators, when the trial was made at this place, to see two horses at 
work by the side of a field, on a capstan, which, by an invisible 
wire rope, draws towards itself a low frame-work, leaving but the 
trace of a narrow slit on the surface. If you pass, however, to the 
other side of the field, which the frame-work has quitted, you 
perceive that it has been dragging after it a string of pipes, which, 
still following the plow's snout, that burrows all the while four 
feet below ground, twists itself like a gigantic red worm into the 
earth, so that in a few minutes, when the frame- work has reached 
the capstan, the string is withdrawn from the necklace, and you 
are assured that a drain has thus been invisibly formed under 
your feet." The Jury decided as follows : 

The implement went through the trial very well, laying in the 
tiles with great apparent ease, worked by two horses, with a cap- 
stan which was firmly and easily fixed into the ground, and afforded 
a firm traction to the plow by means of a wire rope and pulley. 
Progress has been made, since the implement was exhibited at 
Exeter, in rendering the level of the drains in a degree indepen- 
dent of the level of the surface, " but there is still room for fur- 
ther improvement in giving to the drain an uniform incline." 
The award, therefore, of the Jury was Honorable Mention. 

Churns formed a very numerous class in the exhibition ; of the 
four prizes awarded, one was for Anthony's American Churn, 
called the " Improved American Churn," vrell knoAvn in this 
country, exhibited by an English firm who have the patent for 



No. 126.] Ill 

England. All the prize cliurns churned the butter in less than 
ten minutes. There was nothing peculiar about these churns that 
gave them pre-eminence except the rapidity with wliicli tlie but- 
ter was made. My own opinion on that subject is, that butter thus 
rapidly produced is not equal in its quality to that produced in 
the ordinary manner, for keeping purposes, and such, I believe, is 
the united testimony of a very large proportion of the best dairy- 
men in this State. In the American department there was shown 
from New Hampshire " Davis Self Adjusting Churn," of the same 
principle substantially as the '* Improved American Churn" to 
which a prize was awarded. This chiu-n was received late at the 
exhibition and was not tested at the trial. 

The American Scythes, Axes, Hay and Manure Forks, &c., were 
very much approved, and so far as I have heard from those fami- 
liar with these implements they were considered decidedly supe- 
rior. The assortment of the Messrs. Allen's of Xew-York, was 
much the most extensive of any in the American department. 

In the Tunisian department was exhibited a Thrashing Machine, 
composed of a frame of circular iron plates fixed to wooden cylin- 
ders of smaller dimensions, which run over the grain. It is prob- 
ably similar to the corn thrasher mentioned in the Bible, and was 
certainly an object of no little interest, showing the contrast most 
strikingly between the earliest times and our own. The exhibi- 
tion in its implements and models of implements show, how our 
ancestors lived. Referring to the articles from diiferent nations 
on exhibition, we have but to make " distance in leagues take the 
place of distance in years," and we have in the rude implements 
from India and Tunis the evidence of what was the character of 
the implements of tillage in England in its earliest history. 

Turnip Cutter. — The one exhibited by Burgess and Key of 
London, called the double acting Turnip Cutter, received a Prize 
Medal. It was novel in its movements, the cutter being fixed 
and the motion of the boxes being horizontal. It was simple, 
cheap and durable, and cut three diiferent sizes at the same time 



113 [Assembly 

if desired J delivering each size at a difierent place. It did its 
Avork remarkably easy and quick, and was superior, I think, to 
any exhibited. One of the machines was purchased by an Amer- 
ican gentleman at my suggestion, and I hope we may have it in- 
troduced into this State, as it will prove, I doubt not, a real 
improvement. 

Steam Engines. — Of these there was a great variety, remarka- 
bly well got up, bo-th stationary and movable. They are in use 
in many parts of England. I saw them at work on several of the 
large farms and they were very much approved. Eor this country, 
however, I did not see any that I consider as useful as those man- 
ufactured in our own State by Hoard & Bradford, of Watertown, 
w^hich for simplicity, lightness and cheapness, as well as efficiency, 
possess decided advantage over any I saw. 

Of the Thrashing Machines, there was a great variety exhibi- 
ted ; none, however, except one in the United States division, from 
Messrs. Allen New- York, operated by a single horse. Those in 
the English department that were operated by horses required from 
four to eight. The steam power is fast superseding the use of horses 
for this purpose. 

Of Smut or grain cleaning machines there were quite a number 
exhibited, but none which, so far as a judgment could be formed 
from a careful inspection and without a trial, which should have 
been had, was superior to those shown in the United States depart- 
ment by Leonard Smith of Troy, N. Y. 

A number of Fanning and winnowing Mills, of various patterns, 
were shown. Grant's, from this State, which has stood pre-emi- 
nent for its superiority, was exhibited, and was bought by a gen- 
tleman from Scotland, after a very careful examination — ^he being 
satisfied that it was the best machine he had ever seen. 

Dynamometers, for testing the draught of plows, and other 
implements, were shown. One from France, a self-registering 



No. 126.] 113 

one, promised to furnish what was desired, correct indications — 
but unfortunately the days on which the implements were tested, 
were so moist that it could not be used. One, by Bentall, patented 
in England, was used on the trial — and did tolerably well — but I 
do not consider it an improvement upon those in which the strain 
is indicated by the compression of a spiral spring which we have 
in use here. 

The trial of the implements having been made mainly previous 
to the opening of the exhibition, may account, in part, for the 
want of notice being taken of many very useful articles in the 
United States Department — though the assurance was given after 
the trial had been made of the plows and reapers, that the princi- 
pal collections in the United States Department, should receive an 
Honorable Mention. Why this was not done, does not appear in 
the report made. 

Ide's Wheel Cultivator, exhibited by Levi Wells, Rochester, is a 
very useful implement here — but no opportunity was given to 
test its capabilities at the exhibition. 

Charles Ross of Rochester, had on exhibition two of Fitzgerald's 
Portable Grist Mills, with his improvements — but they were not 
in operation. The Jury examined them, and their cheapness were 
recommendations w^hich attracted the notice of farmers. There 
were a number of mills on exhibition, and the Prize Medal was 
awarded to one exhibited in the English Department, which was 
composed of metal — and which had, I think, an apparatus for 
supplying air to the grinding surface of the mill stones, which is 
considered important and useful. 

Eddy & Co., Washington County, N. Y.,had a model of Taplin's 
Horse Power, on exhibition, which, in this country, is much 
approved. 



H.— 1852. 



114 [Assembly 

Class 10. — Philosophical Instruments and processes depending 
on their use. 



The exhibition in this class was very extensive and of great 
variety, and comprised many articles of ingenuity, &c. Of the 
30 Council Medals, only one was awarded to the United States, and 
that to W. Bond & Son, of Boston, for the invention of a new mode 
of observing astronomical phenomena, &;c. The great Equatorial 
Telescope, of Ross, which was said to be the most powerful instru- 
ment ever made, received a Council Medal. "The diameter 
of the object glass is 11| inches — and a magnifying power of 
six hundred times in diameter, may be used without prejudicially 
darkening the field of vision." There were many other Telescopes 
of great merit, exhibited — several from France, of peculiar excel- 
lence. The French exhibition, in this class, was very numerous 
and of acknowledged merit, and received a large number of prizes. 
A Council Medal was awarded to Count Durrin of London, for the 
extraordinary application of mechanism to his steel expanding 
figure of a man. This piece of mechanism was designed to illus- 
trate the different proportions of the human figure ; it admits of 
being expanded from the size of the Appollo Belvidere to that of 
a Colossal Statue. Its immediate object is to facilitate the exact 
fitting of garments, more especially in cases where great numbers 
are required, as in the equipment of an army. 

Personal attendance is not required, as there is adapted to the 
figure a new system of measurement, which enables any person 
to take the exact size and form of an individual — and from the 
measurement so taken the figure can be so adjusted as to represent, 
correctly, the person to be fitted. An establishment provided 
with a few of these figures, would be able to fit, perfectly, 
the clothing of an entire army. This was a most ingenious piece 
of mechanism, and in addition to its ingenuity, can be made of 
great practical utility. 

J. R. St. John, of Buffalo^ Self-Determining Compass. — To 
this was awarded a Prize Medal. This compass is so constructed 



No. 126.] 115 

that the deflection ot tne principal needle is always shown, by indi- 
cators, upon graduated scales. This result is obtained from two 
small or sattelite needles suspended upon axes fastened in the disk 
or compass cord, at equal distances, and right angles to the center 
of the main needles. The extremities of the graduated arcs or 
scales, are marked with the letters E. and W.,by which the char- 
acter of the deflection is known, while the quantity is read upon 
the scales- It shows the presence of any disturbing forces upon 
the needle, and also the amount of deflection resulting from these 
causes. It was admitted to be in advance of any instrument in 
use. Many were decideclly of opinion that this should have re- 
ceived a Council Medal. 

The Aquatic Velocimeter, shown by the same gentleman — 
which gives the true velocity of a vessel through the Avater, and 
the aggregate distance traveled at any time, was very ingenious. 

Erricson, New-York, exhibited a variety of very ingenious and 
useful nautical instruments. His Sea Lead, a valuable instru- 
ment for taking soimdings at sea without rounding the vessel to 
the wind, and independently of the length of the lead line. 

Pyrometer, an instrument intended as a standard measure of 
temperature from the freezing point of water up to the melting 
point of iron ; the tension of a permanent volume of atmospheric 
air or azote, measm-ed by the height of a column of mercury un- 
der a vacuum, being the indicator. 

Rotary Fluid Meter — For measuring fluids by the velocity 
with which they pass through apertures of definite dimensions. 

Reciprocating Fluid Meter — For measuring the quantity of 
water which passes through pipes during definite periods. 

Alarm Barometer. — ^Whenever the mercury sinks below any 
given altitude, the falling of the column causes a gong to be struck 



116 [Assembly 

and being near the helm of the vessel gives instant warning to 
the helmsman, and the danger of an approaching storm can be 
averted. 

Distance Instrument — To measure the distance of an enemy's 
ship, to enable the officer measuring to elevate his gun with pre- 
cision. Hydrostatic Guage, and Hydraulic Machine for testing 
the same. 

These instruments were all valuable and were examined by 
nautical men with great interest. They were most creditable to 
Mr. Erriccson, and elicited from the Jurors the Prize Medal. 

Professor Bache, of Washington, received a Prize Medal for his 
Standard Weights, Measures and Balance. They were admirably 
prepared, and few articles in the United States Department attract- 
ed more attention. Mr. Burt, of Michigan, for a solar compass 
and instruments, received a Medal. They were of great excel- 
lence, and justly entitled to the award given. 

Daguerreotypes were extensively shown. Those from the Uni- 
ted States were conceded to be superior in general effect, to those 
from any other country. Brady k Lawrence, of IS ew- York, each 
received a Prize Medal — and one was awarded to a Mr. Whipple, 
of Michigan, for a daguerreotype of the moon. There were sev- 
eral other exhibitors whose pictures were very superior. Those 
of Evans, from Buffalo, were much admired, as were those of 
Meade & Brothers, New- York. The following article, from an 
English literary journal, shows in what estimation our exhibition 
was held. "Daguerreotypes are largely displayed by the French, 
as might have been expected, that country being proud of the 
discovery ; but the examples exhibited by the Americans surpass, 
in general, beauty of eflect, any which we have examined from 
other countries. This has been attributed to a difference in the 
character of the solar light, as modified by atmospheric condi- 
tions ; we are not, however, disposed to believe that to be the 



No. 126.] 117 

case. We have certain indications that an increased intensity of 
light is not of any advantage, but rather the contrary, for the pro- 
duction of daguerreotypes ; the luminous rays appearing to act as 
balancing powers against the chemical rays. Now, this being the 
case, we know of no physical cause by which the superiority can 
be explained, and we are quite disposed to be sufficiently honest 
to admit tliat the mode of manipulation has more to do with the 
result than any atmospheric influences. However this may be, 
the character of the daguerreotypes executed in America is very 
remarkable. There are a fulness of tone, and an artistic modu- 
lation of light and shadow which, in England, we do not obtain. 
The striking contrasts of white and black are shown decidedly 
enough in the British examples exhibited in the gallery — but 
here are coldness and hardness of outline. Within the shadow 
of the eagle and the striped banner w^e find no lights too 
white and no shadows too dark ; they dissolve, as in Nature, one 
into the other, in the most harmonious and truthful manner — and 
the result is more perfect pictures." 

A Calculating Machine, by StafFel, a Polish Jew, in the Russian 
Department, was a very ingenious contrivance, for which a Medal 
was awarded. It was about 17 inches by 9, and 4 inches high. 
The upper row contained 13 figures, and is immovable. The sec- 
ond and third, containing seven figures each — movable. The 
words Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division, are 
1 engraved on a semi-circular ring to the right ; and underneath is 
' a hand, which must be directed to whichever operation is to be 
performed. The figures being arranged, a handle is turned — the 
operation instantly performed. If a question be wrongly stated, 
the error is instantly detected and announced by the ringing of a 
small bell. 

I Balances were exhibited, of great perfection — a magnetized one 

I from Falmouth, England, would weigh the ten thousandth part of 

\ a grain — and a very superior one from France, which was affected 

/ by the slightest breath of air. 



1 18 [Assembly 

Electric Telegraph Instruments, in great varietyj were shown, 
each kind in operation. The American printing Telegraph was 
exhibited by an English party. Bain's Telegraph was awarded a 
Council Medal — ^as was BakewelPs copying Telegraph — and the 
same was awarded for an instrument from Prussia — and Prize 
Medals to several other exhibitors, 

A Prize Medal was awarded to Mr. Ward, an English 
exhibitor, for closed cases, by which plants may be grown in 
any locality, even in crowded cities, or conveyed from one 
country to another, with complete success. The use of the 
cases was suggested to the inventor in 1829. Wishing to obtain 
a perfect specimen of a sphinx (while residing in London) 
he had buried its chrysalis in some moist mold in a bottle covered 
with a lid. Two or three days before the insect assumed its per- 
fect form, a seedling fern and a grass made their appearance on 
the surface of the mold. In this condition all their wants were 
supplied. They had sufficient light — ^whilst the lid, at the same 
time that it excluded the noxious soot, prevented the escape of the 
moisture. The law which enforces the diffusion of gases secured 
a constant circulation of the air, and its quiescent state, enabled 
the plants to bear variations of temperature which, in open ex- 
posure would have proved injurious ; various experiments carried 
on with a great variety of plants, established the conclusion that 
all plants, whose natural conditions can be fulfilled, can be grown 
in those cases, in any locality, even in the center of the most crow- 
ded cities, or conveyed from one country to another, with com- 
plete success. 

Mr. Fortune, who was sent out to China by the Horticultural 
Society of London, put 250 plants in these cases, and landed 215 
in good condition — while in the old plan of carrying plants, it is 
stated that only one plant in a thousand survived the voyage from 
China to England. The same pure and moistened atmosphere 
which favored the growth of the most delicate plants in the heart 
of the most crowded city, would be of incalculable advantage in 
numerous diseases. 



No. 126.] 119 

Atmospheric Recorderj by Dollond, in the English department. 
This was a self-registering instrument, whicli registered on paper 
the varying processes of the atmosphere, the changes of the tem- 
perature of air and evaporation, and those of the electrical 
states of the atmosphere, the fall of rain, the amount of water 
evaporated from a surface of water and the force and direction of 
the wind. It is a very ingenious, as well as useful instrument — 
particularly in meteorological investigations — noting every change, 
however minute, and registering those at night as well as those 
happening during the day. It received a Council Medal. 

Cotton's Sovereign Weighing Machine. — A machine which I 
saw in use at the Bank of England, weighing sovereigns with great 
rapidity and perfect accuracy, was represented in the Exhibition. 
It separates with unerring accuracy coins of standard Aveight, 
from those that have not that weight. A pile of coins being pla- 
ced in a tube — the lowest is pushed out by a lever on the end of a 
beam, which, if the coin is of full weight, is depressed through a 
small space, but if it be too light, the beam remains stationary. 
A small piece of steel now advances from one side, on a level with 
the position that the heavy coin assumes, and immediately after- 
wards another advances from the opposite side on a level with the 
position of the light coin. If the coin is full weight the first ad- 
vancing piece pushes it into a receptacle, and the second has no 
effect ; if, on the contrary, the coin is light, the first passes under 
it, and the second strikes it into another receptacle. This is ope- 
rated by steam power, and there are a dozen at the bank frequently 
all in operation at the same time, and the rapidity and certainty 
with which they work is truly wonderful. This was introduced 
late into the exhibition, but I believe received a prize medal from 
the Jury. 

Musical Instruments were also in this class, submitted to a 
sub-jury. In this division there was a great variety of instruments 
exhibited. Organs of immense power — one by Willis, of London, 
which is said to weigh 30 tons, with 5,000 pipes — a great variety of 
piano fortes, kc. From the United States there were a number of 



120 [Assembly 

pianos exhibited, and although in the early part of the Exhibition 
they were slightly noticed by the press, every one of them received 
an award of a Medal or Honorable Mention. Chickering, Meyer, 
Nunns & Clark, received medals. Gilbert & Co.,Heers & Pirsson, 
Honorable Mention ; and Wood of Virginia, a money award of 
<£50, for his Piano Violin, which attracted attention from its inge- 
nuity, and was in constant requisition to satisfy the eager curiosity 
of visitors. Goodyear, of the United States, received Honorable 
Mention for an India Rubber flute. 

HoRoLoGicAL, Clocks oud Watches. The number in this sub-di- 
vision was immense, and of every conceivable size and variety. 
France and Switzerland exhibited very largely, and received a 
large portion of the prizes. Dent, of London, celebrated for his 
superior work, received a Council Medal for a Turret clock. In 
the French department, were a very great number of very elegant- 
ly finished clocks, of almost every imaginable variety of form. 
In the Austrian department, was exhibited a clock for which is 
claimed the realization of perpetual motion — continuing to move 
until its materials are worn out j the power which winds it up, be- 
ing the varying pressure of the atmosphere acting on quicksilver, 
which turns a wheel and accomplishes the work. The American 
exhibition of clocks was of considerable variety, and unusually 
cheap — these found more favor with purchasers than they did with 
the jury. Geneva, so long celebrated for miniature watches, ex- 
hibited the smallest watch ever made. It was inserted in the top 
of a gold pencil case, was ^\ of an inch in diameter, which on its 
dial gave the seconds, minutes, hours and days of the month. A 
magnifying glass was by the side of it, to enable all to see its per- 
fection of finish, which many, by the naked eye, could not clearly 
distinguish. In connection with this, was exhibited a piece of tiny 
mechanism — very ingenious — a small pillar of a few inches in 
height, the top of which opens at the touch of a spring, and a lit- 
tle bird, most perfect in its construction, in the very motions of 
life, sings a brief song and then retires. Price $80. There were 
many curiosities in this division, that attracted much notice, seve- 
ral of them constructed by persons not connected with the trade. 



No. 126.] 121 

There was one clock which gave tlie time of the day in every part 
of the worki, which occupied 34 years in the manufacture, requires 
to be reguhited once in 130 years. A clock made by a tailor^ 
gave the days and months, the motions of the sun and moon, the 
state of the tide in various countries, and runs for 12 months; and 
a musical clock, made by a blacksmith, played a tune every three 
hours. 

Surgical Instruments. — In this sub-division, there was an ex- 
hibition of the improvement made in this department — no Council 
Medals awarded, and not a very large number of Prize Medals. Pal- 
mer^s artificial leg, from this country , received a medal, to which it 
was most justly entitled. Among the great number of preparations 
there was none that compared with this — and I was informed that 
the Marquis of Anglesea, who left one of his limbs at the battle 
of Waterloo — had Mr. Palmer before him, with his leg, and, in 
the midst of a collection not numerous enough to supply a large 
army, yet very extensive — this was pronounced superior to all. 
I did not learn whether one was prepared for the Marquis — but 
probably he has, ere this, tried its quality. In the French De- 
partment, the collection of superior instruments were of great 
variety and finished most perfectly. The anatomical models from 
France were very perfect, and are now generally introduced as 
aids to the study of Anatomy. These comprised not only the 
human figure but those of domestic animals. Various instruments 
for aiding the hearing, which may be worn without being noticed, 
were shown. 

In the English department, one exhibitor presented a complete 
cabinet of surgical instruments, containing all that was necessary 
for general operations in surgery, with the latest improvements. 
The collection was very admirably executed, and was, in all 
respects, most perfect, and was awarded a Prize Medal, to which it 
was certainly entitled, from its great excellence. Dental instru- 
ments were exhibited by several exhibitors from this State, of 
very high finish and equal to any shown. 



122 [Assembly 

Class 11. Cotton Goods. — The exhibition in this class, consid- 
ering the importance of the manufacture, was not large — yet all 
the various departments of it were sufficiently illustrated. The 
exhibitors were from England, United States, Switzerland, 
Portugal, France, Belgium. As illustrative of the manufacture, 
were shown the preparations from the raw cotton, in all its stages, 
to the finishing of the cloth, in every variety in use. A Manches- 
ter firm had a collection of this description, of 48 preparations, 
from a sample of New Orleans Cotton, to the most beautiful and 
exquisitely finished white, printed and figured lace. 

Prize Medals were awarded to the United States for an assort- 
ment of drillings, tickings, shirtings, sheetings and cotton flannel, 
exhibited by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manches- 
ter, New Hampshire, and the Willimantic Duck Manufacturing 
Company, for cotton sail cloth; the same material, I think, of 
which the sails of the American Yacht were constructed. As there 
was nothing very special in this class, and as I have given a full 
account of the progress of the cotton manufacture, under the head 
of machinery, I shall not dwell upon it. I regretted we had not 
a much more varied representation in this class — as we might have 
shown a variety of cheap fabrics that would have given more fully 
evidence of what we are doing, as well as what we may be enabled 
to do in this department of Industry. The number of persons 
employed in the manufacture in England is estimated at upwards 
of half a million persons — and the total annual value of the ma- 
terial manufactured at 36 millions sterling. 

Class 12. Woolens and Worsteds. — The exhibition in this class 
was extensive, and of surpassing richness in many of its branch- 
es. Broadcloths, Flannels, Tartans, Worsted, Alpaca, &c., in 
great variety, and from various countries displayed to great ad- 
vantage, the skill and perfection of the respective countries. The 
exhibition from England, Scotland and Ireland, was particularly 
interesting, as there were shown the extremes, from the finest pro- 
ducts, that the skill and inventive talent of the country has 
produced, to the primitive manufacture of the coarsest woolen 



No. 126.] 123 

goods made upon the hand-loom in Ireland and the Highlands of 
Scotland. There were many competitors for supremacy in this 
class from the Continent, and the beauty and excellence of their 
goods, secured a very liberal distribution of prizes. The French 
manufoctures were peculiarly fine and highly finished, and Russia, 
Saxony, Prussia and Belgium, exhibited fabrics of very great 
excellence. Samples of Flannels from Massachusetts, which 
were very fine, received a medal, and Honorable Mention was 
also made of Blankets exhibited. There w^as but a small exhibi- 
tion, however, from this country. The number of exhibitors 
from Great Britain of woolen and worsted fabrics, was about 
500. The most extensive collections w^ere from the west of Eng- 
land, so very celebrated for their manufactures, and where great 
perfection has been attained. An exhibition of goods made from 
the woolen waste, suggests some reflections. It is asserted, and 
doubtless truly, that some of the manufacturers, bj using this, 
have sustained themselves, and have reaped a rich remuneration. 
If this is sold in market with a full knowledge of its composition, 
there certainly can be no objection to it — but if, as is alleged, it is 
sent to other countries and disposed of as an article of very differ- 
ent character, it cannot be justified. 

Prince Albert exhibited articles manufactured from the wool of 
Cashmere goats, kept at Windsor Park. The articles were two 
shawls — two dress pieces, and a specimen of coarse cloth. The dres- 
ses and the shawls were very elegant in their appearance. The spe- 
cimens were arranged in a glass case, in the main avenue of the pa- 
lace, and attracted much attention. The following account of the 
preparation of the wool for the purpose of the manufacture, may not 
be uninteresting. "The cashmere goats wool, consists of two dis- 
tinct materials, called wool and kemp , The wool is beautifully rich 
and soft to the touch, and is probably superior in this respect to the 
finest Continental lamb's wool . The kemp presents the appearance 
of a coarse rough hair, such as is avoided by the manufacturer in all 
purchases of wool. The two w^ools, as shown from the goat, are 
closdy intermingled, and present the appearance of a coarse hai- 
ry wool of a low character ; but a minute inspection shows that 



124 [Assembly 

part of it is of a very fine quality. In order to separate this fine 
quality from the coarse, it is necessary to do so fiber by fiber; and 
this has to be done by hand, no machinery having as yet been ap- 
plied to this purpose. The process is very difficult, one person 
not being able to separate more than half an ounce in twelve 
hours. 

" When it was known in Yorkshire that the Prince desired an 
experiment to be made in the manufacture of wool from his goats, 
hundreds of volunteers offered themselves to separate the fine wool 
from the coarse hair, and for some months 1000 persons were em- 
ployed, as their leisure hours enabled them to give attention, with- 
out any remuneration required ; and an elegantly engraved certi- 
ficate, with a view of the Crystal Palace, stating that the holder 
had been employed upon the work, was presented to each." The 
experiment was an interesting one, though the question of profit 
in the use of the wool may not have been determined. 

Tartans and Alpaca goods were shown in great variety, and of 
surpassing excellence ; and articles of wool and silk and wool and 
cotton, which are very extensively manufactured at the present 
time, were represented in several of the departments. A woolen 
manufacturer from the United States, whom I met at the Palace, 
a gentleman of great intelligence and well acquainted with the 
manufactures in our country, informs me, after a careful examina- 
tion of the contributions in this department, he having been upon 
the jury for a portion of the time, that in very many of the de- 
scriptions of articles exhibited, we might have presented goods, 
that in every respect would have equalled those on exhibition. He 
also stated, that it was a most valuable and instructive exhibition, 
and one that would amply have repaid any person interested in 
the subject, to have crossed the Atlantic to examine. It appeared 
to me that many most valuable lessons might have been derived 
by our manufacturers from a careful study in this department. 

Class 13. Silk and Velvet.— I have noticed under the 3d class 
all that I deem important in regard to that portion of the Exliibi- 



No. 126.] 125 

tion. The articles in this class were of great variety of excellence, 
and fully illustrated the perfection which has been attained in this 
department of manufacture, by which the most expensive and rich 
goods are supplied for the use of those whose means enable them 
to procm-e them. 

Class 14. Flax and Hemp.— The exhibition, in this class, was 
quite perfect, and showed the various purposes for which Flax 
and Hemp are used — but, as I have given an extended description 
of the improvements that are in progress in the preparation of 
Flax for common use, under Class 3, 1 do not deem it necessary to 
dwell upon the subject more at large. 

Class 15. Mixed Fabrics, including Shawls. — There was a 
fine show of Shawls tastefully arranged, mostly in glass cases, 
and with due regard to their most advantageous display. 
Those from Paisley, long celebrated for its manufactures, were of 
great excellence, and of variety suited to every taste. Some of 
the Paisley manufacturers displayed Tartans, of every class, 
and they were objects of universal admiration — and when the 
excursion trains brought up the Scotsmen, from the North, it was 
amusing to witness the delight they manifested in the rich display 
of their favorite Tartans. 

In the United States Department some very fine shawls from the 
Lawrence Mills were shown, and attracted the notice of all inter- 
rested in this class, and received a Prize Medal. James Roy & Co., 
of the Watervliet Mills, New York, sent out late, a few of their 
superior shawls to my care, but they did not reach London until 
the Jurors had finished their labors. I had, however, the pleasure 
of showing them to the Chairman of the Jury, and a member from 
France, who expressed their admiration of these shawls and of 
their extraordinary excellence, and I w^as assured that had they 
been received in time, they would have found a place in their 
awards with the best Paisleys. 



126 [Assembly 

There was shown, from Paisley, a very ingenious machine, 
whereby patterns in checks, stripes and Tartans, may be combined 
and displayed by means of sliding mirrors and slips of colored 
glass. The principle is a modification of the power of the Kale- 
idoscope. Among the advantages claimed for it, was the extra- 
ordinary facility with which the idea of a pattern can be moment- 
arily realized, modified or changed. When the pattern is approved 
of, it is not necessary to paint it upon paper, as brass scales affixed 
to the sides of the mirrors indicate, at a glance, the exact number 
of threads of each color, and how many repeats are necessary for 
the breadth of the web. The patterns thus originated can be en- 
larged or diminished at pleasure. Another advantage is the sim- 
plicity, ease of adaptation, and the perfect manner in which the 
efi'ect of finished cloth, the crisp transparent surface of silk, and 
the soft opaque texture of wool, are severally given. The im- 
portance of this apparatus, giving the power of realizing, without 
expense, any new idea that may occur, in the preparation of pat- 
terns, must commend it to those engaged in this branch of manu- 
facture. 

There were exhibited, from France, some very choice shawls, of 
admirable finish and richness, and great beauty of design. A 
Council Medal was awarded to a French house, for the discovery 
of a new and important process in the production of elaborate 
designs. This firm exhibited Cashmere shawls, of great beauty. 
No other Council Medal was awarded. 

Very fine exhibitions were made, in this class, by Austria, Prus- 
sia, and Belgium. 

Class 16. Leather^ Saddlery^ Harness.— Theve was a very large 
collection of articles, and of a varied character in this class. The 
English exhibitors, as might have been expected, excel all the 
others in extent and variety of articles ; in fact, some of the ex- 
hibitors from London, seemed to have brought their whole estab- 
lishments. 



No. 126.] 127 

There was a great variety of leather exhibited, in all conditions 
and states of manufacture from various countries. One great 
object in the preparation of leather, appearing to be to diminish 
the time required in its manufacture and, although it has been 
doubted whether leather produced rapidly is equally durable and 
serviceable as that produced by the former slow process; the 
exhibition, I think, very clearly showed that the tendency is deci- 
dedly to the shorter process — and there were many samples exhib- 
ited where the leather had been prepared in a few weeks, that 
formerly occupied many months, and to appearance, certainly 
equal to any on exhibition. 

There were some capital samples of leather from this State, 
exhibited by Hon. Zadock Pratt, of Prattsville, of eight different 
varieties, from four tanneries, which had been finished in about 
four and a half months — mostly with hemlock bark. The sam- 
ples were very admirably finished, and attracted attention. Har- 
nesses and saddlery were in great variety. The expensive char- 
acter of many of the articles, evinced more attention to display 
than utility. From this country, there were several exhibitors, 
and medals were awarded for calf-skins from Philadelphia ; for a 
light harness from Boston, and a heavy double harness from Phil- 
adelphia, very elaborately mounted ; an Honorable Mention, for 
a portable saddle, by Adams, New- York. Mr. Lloyd, of Albany, 
exhibited a very neat and admirably finished light harness, made 
entirely of American materials, mounted with gold from Califor- 
nia. As show was deemed far more important than the value of 
the mountings, Mr. L. did not receive a prize which, I doubt not, 
would have been awarded, had more showy and less valuable ma- 
terial been used for his mountings, suited to the taste of the exhi- 
bition. Mr. Lloyd also exhibited some very fine made ladies' 
and gentlemen's leather travelling trunks. In the French Depart- 
ment there were shown many very fine samples of leather of vari- 
ous descriptions. In the fine varieties, calf-skin, kid, morocco, 
&c., I think the French exhibition w^as unequalled. 



128 [Assembly 

Furs. — In this class, Fursweve exhibited in considerable variety. 
A very large collection, by the Hudson Bay Company, of the 
various kinds, which are taken mainly on this continent. The 
exhibition, by a firm of London, of a very great variety of furs in 
common use, was a very instructive one, showing the difference 
between the really valuable fiirs and their counterfeits. As illus- 
trative of this, Rabbits and Ermine unlike as two furs can be — 
(except both are white and the Rabbits have the tail with a tip of 
black, like the Ermines, affixed) — the Ermine, brilliant, firm, point- 
ed, the hair lying closely and evenly — the Rabbit coarse and 
blunt. Yet, notwithstanding all this difference, from some 
preparation known to the trade, a London lady is said to 
ha^e given X20, nearly |100, for a Rabbit skin cardinal, when 
a real Ermine could have been bought for nearly half the 
money. C. Mawson, New- York, exhibited some beautiful Muffs 
and Boas, made from the skins of animals abounding in North 
Carolina. They are called Silver Martin Muffs. 

Canada exhibited largely in this class, and some very highly fin- 
ished articles. Russia, also, had some very choice furs, and the 
Emperor's own Pelisse, made entirely from the skin of the Black 
Fox, was among the attractions in this department ; it was valued 
at £3,000. Mr. Nicholay, of London, who had the most rich, varied 
and extensive collection in the exhibition, offered to produce a pelisse 
better than the Emperor's for £1 ,000 ; and from, the richness and ex- 
tent of his collection, he could doubtless do it The Furs manufac- 
tured in Russia are purchased almost entirely for the London market. 

It was rather surprising, to learn that the British Furs, con- 
sisting of Hare, Rabbit and Cat skins, are prepared chiefly for the 
American market, they being preferred in this country, it is af- 
firmed, over the real valuable and superior Furs of our own conti- 
nent, on account of their cheapness. This may be so, but if it is, 
is only evidence, that we are buying an inferior article, on account 
of its apparent cheapness, as is the case in some other fabrics, rather 
than use the superior ones of our own country, which have not 
the stamp of imported upon them. 



No. 126.] 129 

Class, 17. Paper and Stationery^ Printing and Book-Bindings 
§'c. — Only one Council Medal was awarded, and that to the Impe- 
rial Court and Printing office of Austria, for novelty of invention, 
and the number of new combinations in the art of typography. 
Among the objects on exhibition, was a collection of 11,000 steel 
punches, including 104 different alphabets, from the Hieroglyphic, 
down to the Japanese, Mandschu and Formosan. There was a 
collection of Gutta Percha and galvanized copper matrixes and 
patrixes of wood cuts, facsimiles of antique relievos. 

As a specimen of the typographic strength of the Imperial print- 
ing office, there was also a copy of the Hall of Languages ^ consist- 
ing of seventeen sheets in elephant folio, containing the hordes 
Prayer in 608 languages and idioms, printed with Roman letters, 
and in 206 varieties of language, in the characters peculiar to each ; 
a work of most splendid execution. 

There was also a collection of Mss. Writings in the early ages, 
from the sixth century to the days of Guttenberg, and the inven- 
tion of the art of printing. There was also a Japanese Novel, in 
the Japanese language with a German translation, the first work 
of the kind ever printed with movable Japanese types. The ap- 
pearance of this work caused great sensation in foreign countries. 
The perfection with which it was executed, created doubts in the 
minds of the members of a German society for the promotion of the 
Oriental languages, whether the Japanese part and the illustrations 
of the work had not been executed in Japan, and the German part 
only at Vienna. There were many other very ingenious and valua- 
ble articles exhibited in this collection, and the establishment is 
one of the most distinguished in the world. 

A very interesting collection of 165 books in different languages, 
from the 175 versions of the Scriptures, either in whole or in 
part which have been published directly or indirectly, by the Bri- 
tish and Foreign Bible Society, was exhibited. Of this collection 
118 were from translations never before printed; and of which 

( 1—1852. ) 



130 [Assembly 

more than twenty-four millions of copies have been circulated since 
its institution in 1804. Eight specimens of four editions of the 
English Bible, showing the improvements made between 1816 and 
1851, in reference to quality of paper, printing and binding, at an 
average reduction of 62 per cent, in the cost price. This contri- 
bution was most interesting, developing as it did the great efforts 
Hnd perseverance, as well as the benevolence that had caused the 
preparation of the Scriptures for distribution to all nations and 
tongues. 

An immense roll of paper was exhibited, made in a continuous 
sheet 3,500 yards long. A collection from Saxony consisting of 
356 volumes printed at one establishment in the year preceding 
the exhibition was interesting, as developing the attention paid in 
that country to works for the public. The Egyptian Government 
had a collection of 165 volumes of books printed in the Arabic, 
Persian and Turkish languages ; and a catalogue of the books pub- 
lished in Egypt. 

Specimens of split paper, useful for removing letter press from the 
backs of engravings and wood cuts. The method of splitting paper 
of the thinnest texture is extremely simple : Two pieces of calico 
are firmly cemented on the sides of the paper and dried. By a gen- 
tle pull on each side, the paper splits into halves, one of which ad- 
heres to the calico on one side and the other to its opposite. The 
adhesion between the paper and calico being greater than that of 
the surfaces of the paper to each other. The split portion may then 
be removed by dampening and so loosening the paste between the 
calico and paper. 

Book binding was illustrated in a great variety of style and ex- 
cellence. Some exhibitors show the different stages through which 
a book passes in the process of binding — from the folded sheets to 
the finished and gorgeous book. There was a very interesting 
collection of specimens showing the present state of paper manu- 
facture, and materials employed in various stages of preparation 
from the foulest rags to the most finished and perfect specimens of 



No. 126.] 131 

note paper for Roj'alty. The National Printing Office of France 
had a variety of oriental and other types, of very great merit, for 
which they received a Medal. Some paper from Russia exhibited 
a very great improvement in the manufacture of paper over that 
heretofore made in that country. 

From the Ducal Foundry, Prussia, specimens of stereotype iron, 
and the Bible printed therefrom, was on exhibition. From the 
United States, thei^ was a very respectable exhibition. Medals 
were awarded to Herrick of New York, for superior ruling of ac- 
count books ; and to S. G. Howe of Boston, for a system of char- 
acters of an angular form, Avithout capitals, for the use of the 
blind ; and Honorable Mention was made to Bradley, Band & Co., 
of Boston, for cloth binding, and block gilding; to Gassett, Boston, 
for superior ruling account books; Mr. Adams, Boston, ruled ac- 
count books, &c. ; Sibell & Mott, New- York, Bank and account 
books ; C. Starr, of New- York, binding works for the blind, 
with thickened margins, to prevent the embossing from being 
pressed out ; E. Walker k Co., New- York, for a Bible, elaborately 
bound and ornamented, with a recess for a family register inside 
the cover. 

Some very superior specimens, of Lithographic printing, of 
chromolithography, of printing in colors from wood blocks, and 
other descriptions of ornamental and artistic printing, showed the 
perfection which has been attained ; these were exhibited fi'om 
France, England, &c. In the French department, a very striking 
exhibition, by A. Mann & Co., of Tours, deserves particular notice, 
from the extent and variety, as well as superior execution of the 
various works which proceed from their press, one of the most ex- 
tensive private establishments, it is claimed, in Europe. The 
book department is divided into three classes, books of edu- 
cation, church services and books for schools. They claim for 
their establishment, that the morals of their publications are irre- 
proachable, the price is the very lowest, and the quality of mate- 
rials superior, all which so far as I could judge from their exhi- 
bition, was fully confirmed. In this class, was exhibited the rude 



132 [Assembly 

sketch on blotting paper and ink, exhibiting the first design of the 
Crystal Palace as made by Paxton. Viewed in connection with 
the magnificent building itself, it was an object of extraordinary 
interest, and will doubtless be preserved to the latest times. There 
were in this class, many other articles which it would be interesting 
to describe, did the limits of this report permit. 

Class 18. Fabrics wov en , fitted and laid, shovm as specimens 
of printing and dyeing. — The improvements which have taken 
place in dyeing and printing within a few years, have been very 
great. Chemistry has been brought into co-operation with the 
manufacturer, and the result has been a wonderful advance, not 
only in the beauty of the fabrics, but in lessening the expense of 
their preparation for market. Connected with every important 
manufacture, the laboratory is to be found, and the advantages de- 
rived from the chemist in this class of articles are very great. 
The labor of weeks formerly, is now performed in one day. In 
the early stages of printing, only one color could be applied, now, 
as many as ten, are applied in constant succession. The French 
excelled in this department, and their fabrics presented a bril- 
liancy and beauty of colors, as well as elegance of design, which 
I think were not surpassed in the exhibition. Prussia, Switzer- 
land and England, however, showed great taste and beauty of fin- 
ish, and in the India Department were fabrics that were most supe- 
rior, and perhaps in many respects would be considered unequalled. 

Class 19. — Tapestry, Carpets, Floor Cloths, Lace,^c. — ^The dis- 
play in this class was of the most attractive character. The arti- 
cles were arranged in different parts of the palace, so as to attract 
attention and at the same time develop their most striking qualities. 
From the extent which Carpets, Tapestry, &c., were shown, they 
occupied a very prominent part in the exhibition. Among the at- 
tractions in the Carpet display was one executed for her Majesty, 
Queen Victoria, by 150 ladies. The carpet was thirty feet by 
twenty. The pattern, designed and painted by the artist, was 
sub-divided into detached squares, which were worked by diffe- 
rent ladies ; and on their completion, the squares were re-united, 



No. 126,] 133 

so as to complete the design. In the pattern, consisthig partly of 
geometrical and partly of floral forms, heraldic emblems are in- 
troduced. The initials of the ladies executing the work, are or- 
namentally arranged, so as to form the external border. This 
was used on the day of ^he opening of the exhibition, upon the 
platform on which the throne for Her Majesty was erected, and 
after the ceremonies had closed, and the Queen and her attend- 
ants had left, the anxiety of the people was so great to examine 
the carpet, that it would probably have been seriously injured, 
had not the police removed it at once. 

From the East Indies were shown several admirable specimens of 
workmanship j and a silk carpet from Cachmere, was an article of 
great splendor and of immense value. Some fine samples of car- 
peting and rugs were shown from Persia. 

The English exhibitors were much more numerous than any 
other nation, and nearly equal, in fact, to all the others. There 
was a great variety in the English exhibition, and some of them 
were of remarkable richness and beauty. 

In the American department there was but one exhibitor, Law- 
rence of Boston, who received an Honorable Mention. Specimens, 
however, were shown of Brussels carpet, woven by steam power, 
by Mr. Bigelow of the United States, which had never before been 

I accomplished, and will produce an entire revolution in the man- 

' ufacture of this kind of carpets. 

' A very important improvement has been made in England, by 

which the wool, which has heretofore been mainly buried in the 
fabric, is now brought to the surface, and a carpet equally durable is 
made, with half the quantity of w)ol, and at half the former cost. 

I Austria. — A carpet was exhibited from Austria, made by Marie 

Louise, with the aid of several of her relations, and was interesting, as 

f a specimen of the work of one who had borne an important part in the 

history of Europe, from her connection with the Emperor of France. 



134 [Assembly 

France. — The government manufactory of France received a 
Council Medal for Gobelins Tapestry, wliich for originality and 
beauty of design, as well as the extraordinary excellence of exe- 
cution of the articles exhibited, gave it a pre-eminence over all 
others. For more than two hundred years, has this manufacture 
been carried on under the direction and patronage of the French 
government, and the great perfection of the Gobelins Carpets and 
Tapestry, has been the result of the attention which has been de- 
voted to this one object for this long period of time. 

The exhibitors in this class were from England, France, Belgium, 
Holland, Austria, Algeria, Zollverein, Switzerland, Denmark, 
Portugal, Tunis, United States, East Indies. The Tunisian carpets 
were curiosities, being worked with figures of men and women, 
but without any special skill. 

Laces. — There was a very rich display of laces and embroidery, 
of the very finest and most costly description, as well as of the 
cheaper and ordinary fabrics for common use. A Council Medal 
was awarded to an English firm, for a new velvet and simla lace, 
suitable for shawls, dresses, ornamental, and useful purposes, and 
of great commercial importance. The application of machinery 
to the manufacture of lace, even of some of the finest kinds, has 
produced a great revolution in the trade. The very finest Honiton 
lace in England, is yet, how^ever, wrought by hand. The power 
of the production by machinery as compared with hand labor, is 
said in the case of the bobbinet machine to be nearly as 30,000 
to 5, and the lace produced by it, has in plain articles entirely 
superseded that made by hand. 

Class 20. Articles of Clothing, ^c. — This class includes articles 
for personal or domestic use, and though differing much in the 
character of the articles from the preceding classes, yet it was an 
important one in its application to the supply of the wants of all. 
Hats, caps, clothing of various kinds, boots, shoes, &c., were the 
articles exhibited. In this class there was a great variety from 
most of the countries on exhibition ; yet not of such special 



No. 126.] 135 . 

interest in the character of the articles exhibited as to warrant an 
extended description. As a matter of curiosity, an exhibition in 
the English department was worthy of notice, a case containing 
the difterent varieties of shoes worn in England from the time of 
King John down to the present time, presented striking illustra- 
tions of the caprice of fashion. 

The United States received Medals for miner's shoes, by Adding- 
ton. Ladies boots and shoes, the workmen of W. H. Jefl^rs, New- 
York, and an Honorable Mention to Mr. Jeffers. A Medal to Mrs. 
Haight, New- York, for a very superior worked shirt ; and Honor- 
able Mention to Breed & Co., for children's shoes ; Milward & Sons 
New- York, for Pamela Bonnets of cotton braid. Mrs. Leask, of 
Albany, exhibited a case of very fine children's clothing and needle 
work, whicli was very much admired. Some clothing from New- 
York was admirably made, and some of the hats from New- York 
were remarkably well finished. 

Class 21. Cutlery mid Edge Tools. — In this class, as might have 
been expected, the English exhibitors displayed a most extensive 
and perfect assortment of cutlery, for which they have long been 
celebrated. The extent of the exhibition made by some firms gave 
most striking evidence of the capacity which exists in the work- 
shops of England to supply, at the shortest notice an assortment for 
any portion of the world. The excellence of the work was equal 
to its extent, and the awards gave assurance of the merit of the 
articles exhibited, 63 Medals, out of 89, having been assigned to 
England. Rodgers & Sons, Sheffield, whose cutlery is as well 
known in this country as in England, had a very superior collec- 
tion, from the sportsman's knife, containing 80 blades and other in- 
struments, the handle 12 inches long made of mother of pearl, to 
the miniature knife, containing 56 blades, equally finished, three- 
fourths of an inch long ; and another specimen of cutlery contain- 
1851 blades and other instruments. Sheffield has from a very early 
period been celel^rated for its cutlery, which has kept pace in its 
manufacture with the improvements of the age. 



136 [Assembly 

Austria, Zollverein, Francej Wurtemberg, Sweden and Norway, 
Kussia, Prussia, Nova Scotia and Belgium, were the principal 
foreign exhibitors in this class and presented some very fine ar- 
ticles. Austria and Zollverein were much the largest foreign 
exhibitors, and some of their articles were very superior, as were 
those of France, Prussia and Belgium. 

The United States exhibition of Scythes by the North Wayne 
Co., was decidedly superior to any other in the exhibition, and 
the Axes and other edged tools of Simmons & Co., of Cohoes, New- 
York, were admitted to be without a rival. A very fine assort- 
ment of tools was also exhibited by a firm in Philadelphia. To 
each of these a medal was awarded. An Honorable Mention was 
given to A. B. Allen & Co., of New- York, who had some very 
superior Scythes and other tools on exhibition. 

In the Sheffield department were to be seen goods of remariiable 
brightness, which had been exposed in the open weather upon the 
roof of a house for six days and nights, the bright parts having been 
preserved by a composition preventive of rust. It is a valuable 
preparation, and will afford great relief to families for iron and steel 
ware, when not in constant use, and to those who are shipping iron 
and steel goods. It was exhibited by Jones & Co., of Sheffield. 

Class 22. General Hardware^ Locks and Grates. — This was a very 
numerous class of articles — the number of exhibitors, in the En- 
glish Department exceeding 800, and in the whole amounting, 
probably, to 1,500. A very great variety of articles came under 
the examination of the Jury, and their labors were unusually ar- 
duous. The number of medals awarded were three hundred and 
five, of which twelve were Council Medals. This class acquired 
unusual interest from the publicity given to the lock controversy, 
during the exhibition. Locks of two of the most celebrated lock 
makers 11 England, which had been considered proof against all 
attempts at picking, were opened by an American who had a lock 
on exhibition. Day & NewelPs Parautoptic permutating Lock, of 
which we propose to take some notice hereafter. 



No. 126.] 137 

There were many very fine specimens of iron castings of foun- 
tains, animals, statues, &c.,for which Council Medals were awarded. 
But the most interesting, I think, as well as the most useful, 
were those exhibited by the Coalbrook Dale Company, Coalbrook 
Dale, Shropshire. The first single foundry was commenced two hun- 
dred years ago, and has been in the family of the present proprietors 
nearly one hundred and fifty years. The number of men and boys 
in the employ of the company, at the present time, is between 
2,000 and 4,000. Tlieir articles are of great variety — ornamental 
and other gates for Parks, Fountains, Domes, Chimney pieces and 
Grates. Every variety of Kitchen Ranges and furniture, vases, 
flower stands, chairs, and a great number of articles of amuse- 
ment, are most admirably executed, and with a delicacy and 
beauty of finish which is seldom equalled. 

The French sculptures in Bronze were remarkably fine, and were 
decidedly superior to any others. A variety of warming appara- 
tus, of great beauty of finish and convenience of arrangement was 
shown. Chilson k Co. of New- York, received a Medal for their 
Hot-air furnaces, which commended themselves to the Jurors there, 
as they had so often done to our citizens here. An Honorable 
Mention, to Pond k Co., of Boston, for a cooking stove. Learned 
k Thatcher, All^any, exhibited two Chandelier stoves — Elihu 
Smith's Patent, which, for cheapness and convenience of arrange- 
ment and small amount of fuel necessary, appeared to me, deserv- 
ing of special commendation. There, certainly, were no other 
stoves on exhibition which elicited, so far as I could judge, more 
numerous inquiries, and which appeared to give more satisfaction. 
But with such a multitude of articles to be examined and re-ex- 
amined, it is not at all surprising that these have been omitted if 
they had commended themselves to the Jury as they did to me. 
A Medal was awarded to a Philadelphia firm, for Chandeliers, 
which were very creditable to our country. 

Silas C. Herring's Salamander Safe, received a Medal, and it was 
equal to any shown at the exhibition. There was deposited in this 
safe, in my presence, X200 sterling, by Mr. Herring, and the safe 



138 [AsspiELY 

locked, (having one of Day & Newell's Locks, I believe,) and notice 
placed upon the safe, that any person was welcome to the money, 
who could open the safe — the key being at the service of any one 
who chose to make the attempt. It remained for forty-five 
days unopened. 

The exhibition of Locks was very extensive and of great excel- 
lence. Chubb & Son, celebrated lock-makers, had a very fine 
exhibition of their locks, in great variety and most splendidly got 
up. They were exhibited as the Patent Detector Locks — are in 
use, or were, on the government vaults and offices, the Bank of 
England, and wherever safety was required. The Koh-i-noor dia- 
mond of the Queen, was exhibited in a case, with an arrangement 
for elevating and depressing the diamond without locking — and it 
was stated " that it was considered impossible to pick the lock or 
obtain an entrance into their receptacle." (This precious diamond 
was formerly valued at <£3,000,000, but since it came into the 
possession of the British it was found to have been over estimated, 
and now, I believe, is not considered worth over .£2,000,000 — ^and 
many, who profess to be versed in the valuation of diamonds, 
estimate it much lower.) 

Chubb's locks for ordinary purposes have each six separate and 
distinct movable tumblers and a detector. If a surreptitious at- 
tempt be made to open any one, it was said immediate notice is given 
by the detector on the next application of the proper key. 

Bramah & Co., exhibited very fine samples of their various locks, 
and one brass case lock, exhibiting the number of changes their 
locks will admit of, amounting to upwards of 479 millions ! In 
their shop window in Piccadilly, London, was displayed a large pad- 
lock with a standing offer of 200 guineas to any person who would 
open it with a single instrument. There were many others on ex- 
hibition from England, France, Portugal, Sardinia, Spain, Sweden 
and Norway, Tuscany, United States, Africa and ZoUverein. 



No. 126.] 139 

Soon after the exhibition opened, Mr. A. C. Hobbs, of New- 
York, who had charge of Day & Newell's locks, obtained one of 
Cliubb's locks and opened it in the space of 10 or 15 minutes, in 
the presence of several gentlemen. This, on becoming known, 
excited much interest and led to a publication from Chubb & Son 
challenging the opening of their locks. Mr. Hobbs was permitted 
to make the attempt to open one of Chubb's locks which was placed 
upon an iron door to a vault built for the depository of va],uable 
papers. I give the proceedings which took place on this trial. 

" American Department, 
Crystal Palace^ July 21 . 
Gentlemen : — An attempt will be made to open a lock of 
your manufacture on the door of a strong room at 34 Great George 
Street, Westminster, to-morrow, Tuesday, at 11 A.M. You are 
respectfully invited to be present and witness the operation. 

Yours respectfully, 

A. C. HOBBS. 
To Messrs. Chubb & Son, St. PauPs Church Yard.'' 

(Messrs. Chubb did not notice this communication.) 

"London, July 22, 1851. 
We the undersigned hereby certify that we attended, with per- 
mission of Mr. Bell 6f No. 34 Great George Street, Westminster, 
an invitation sent to us by A. C. Hobbs, of the city of New- York, 
to witness an attempt to open a lock throwing three bolts, and 
having six tumblers, affixed to the iron door of a strong room or 
vault, built for the depository of valuable papers, and formerly 
occupied by the Agents of the South Eastern Railway Company ; 
that we severally witnessed the operations, which Mr. Hobbs 
commenced at 35 minutes past 11 A. M., and opened the lock 
within 25 minutes. Mr. Hobbs having been requested to lock it 
again, with his instruments, accomplished it in the short space of 
seven minutes, without the slightest injury to the lock or door, 
(having previously had the assurance of Mr. Bell that the keys 
had never been accessible to Mr. Hobbs, he having permission to 



140 [Assembly 

examine the key holes only). We found a plate at the back of the 
door with the following inscription : "Chubb's new patent, (No. 161, 
461) St. Paul's Church Yard, London, maker to Her Majesty." 

Mr. Hardley, 26 Great Earl Street. 

Mr. William N. Marshall, 42 Charing Cross. 

Mr. W. Armstead, 35 Belitha Villas, Barnsbury Yard. 

Mr. G. R. Porter, Putney Heath. 

Mr. r. W. Winham, Effra Vale Lodge, Buxton. 

Mr. A. Shanks, Eobert Street, Adelphi. 

Mr. S. Shanks, do do 

Col. W. Clifton, Morley's Hotel. 

Mr. Elijah Galloway, 42 Southampton Buildings. 

Mr. Paul R. Hodge, 9 Adam Street, Adelphi. 

Mr. Charles H. Peabody, 1 Norfolk Street, Strand. 

The annexed remarks from the London Times on the Lock con- 
troversy, and the trial made upon Bramah's lock, by Mr. Hobbs, 
we give in preference to any remarks of our own, as the whole 
matter is treated with very commendable fairness, and atones for 
much which the Times took occasion to say of our articles in the 
early stages of the Exhibition. 

" We believed before the Exhibition opened, that we had the 
best locks in the world, and among us, Bramah and Chubb were 
reckoned quite as impregnable as Gibraltar — more so, indeed, for 
the key of the Mediterranean was taken by us, but none among us 
could penetrate into the locks and shoot the bolts of these makers. 
In this faith, we had quietly established ourselves for years, and it 
seems cruel at this time of day, when men have been taught to 
look at their bunches of keys, and at their drawers and safes with 
something like confidence, to scatter that feeling to the winds. The 
mechanical spirit, however, is never at rest, and if it is lulled into 
a false state of listlessness in one branch of industry, and in one 
part of the world, elsewhere it springs up suddenly to admonish 
and reproach us with our supineness. Our descendants on the 
other side of the water are every now and then administering 



No. 126.] 141 

to the mother country a wholesome filial lesson upon this very 
text, and recently they have been " rubbing us up " with a seve- 
rity which perhaps we merited for sneering at their short comings 
in the Exhibition While we have been relying implicitly upon 
the artful arrangement of " tumblers " and such lilie devices, they 
have been carefully developing their ingenuity in picking and 
opening locks. A man makes a lock, and he brings it to a Me- 
chanic's Institute in New- York with a certain sum of money se- 
cured by it, which sum becomes the property of the successful 
operator, who can shoot back the bolt of the new contrivance. In- 
stantly astute heads, and clever, expert hands are engaged in solv- 
ing the mechanical riddle thus propounded to them, and so far have 
these dexterous manipulators carried their art, that their " open 
sesame" sweeps springs, tumblers, false notches, letter devices, 
and everything else before it. Mr. Hobbs is by far the most ac- 
complished and successful of these performers, and he has come 
over to this country at a very opportune moment to teach our ma- 
kers a very useful lesson. It is well known, however Mr. Chubb 
may wrestle with the statement, that Mr. Hobbs has succeeded, by 
perfectly fair means, in opening his locks as they have hitherto 
been made ; no formal and deliberate trial has taken place between 
them to establish the fact, but it nevertheless remains undoubted, 
and the sooner Mr. Chubb improves his patent, so as to set Mr. 
Hobbs at defiance, the better for his own interests. 

" Bramah & Co., have acted with more pluck, and have been beat- 
en in a fair open field. They have acted with so much bold, open 
courage that even when Mr. Hobb's success was ascertained by 
us, we were reluctant to state the facts positively and circumstan- 
tially, until the award of the arbiters appointed on the subject, 
had been made. That document we now publish, and the public, 
we are sure, when they read it, will not think the less of a firm, 
which has been vanquished in a fair stand-up fight, maintained for 
so long a period, and against such extraordinary skill." 

" Report of the Arbitrators, to whom the Bramah Lock contro- 
versy was referred : 



142 [Assembly 

" WhereaSj for many years past, a padlock has been exhibited in 
the window of the Messrs. Bramah's shop, in Piccadily, to which 
was appended a label with these words ; " The artist who will 
make an instrument that will pick or open this lock, will receive 
200 guineas the moment it is produced -, " and Mr. Hobbs of Amer- 
ica, having obtained permission from the Messrs. Eramah, to make 
a trial of his skill, in opening said lock, Messrs. Bramah and Mr. 
Hobbs, severally agreed that Mr. George Rennie, F. R. S., Lon- 
don, and Professor Cowper, of King's College, London, and Dr. 
Black of Kentucky, should be the Arbitrators between the parties. 
On the 23d of July, it was agreed, that the lock should be enclosed 
in a block of wood and screwed to a door, and the screws sealed, 
the key-hole and hasp only being accessible to Mr. Hobbs ; and 
when he was not operating, the key-hole to be covered with a 
band of iron, and sealed by Mr. Hobbs ; that no other person 
should have access to the key-hole. The key was also sealed 
up, and not to be used till Mr. Hobbs had finished his operations. 
If Mr. Hobbs succeeded in picking or opening the lock, the key 
was to be tried, and if it locked and unlocked the padlock, it should 
be considered a proof that Mr. Hobbs had not injured the lock, 
but picked and opened it, and was entitled to the 200 guineas. 
On the same day, July 23d, Messrs. Bramah gave notice to Mr. 
Hobbs, that the lock was ready for operations. On July 24th, 
Mr. Hobbs commenced his operations, and on August 23d, Mr. 
Hobbs exhibited the lock open to Dr. Black and Prof. Cowper, 
Mr. Rennie being out of town. Dr. Black and Prof. Cowper, then 
called on Mr. Edward Bramah and Mr. Barzalgette, and showed 
them the lock open. They then withdrew, and Mr. Hobbs locked 
and unlocked the padlock, in the presence of Dr. Black and Prof. 
Cowper. Between July 24th and August 23d, Mr. Hobbs' ope- 
rations were for a time suspended, so that the number of days oc- 
cupied by him were 16, and the number of hours spent by him in 
the room with the lock was 51 . On Friday, August 29th, Mr. Hobbs 
again locked and unlocked the padlock in the presence of Mr. 
George Rennie, Prof. Cowper, Dr. Black, Mr. Edward Bramah, 
Mr. Barzalgette, and Mr. Abrahant. On Saturday, August 30th, the 
key was tried, and the padlock Avas locked and unlocked with 



No. 126.] 143 

the key, by Prof. Cowper, Mr. Rennie and Mr. Gelbertson, thus 
proving that Mr. Hobbs had fairly opened the lock without in- 
juring it. Mr. Hobbs then formally produced the instruments 
with which he had opened tlie lock. We are, therefore, unani- 
mously of opinion, that Messrs. Braniah have given Mr. Hobbs a 
fair opportunity of tr}ing his skill, and that Mr. Hobbs has fairly 
picked or opened the lock, and we decide that Messrs. Bramah 
& Co. do now pay to Mr. Hobbs, 200 guineas. 

GEORGE RENNIE, Chairman. 

EDWARD COWPER, 

G. R. BLACK. 
Holland Street^ BlackfriarSy Sept. 2, 1851. 

This document is conclusive on the merits of the question. 
" This rough lesson will probably lead Messrs. Bramah & Chubb 
to devise some means for rendering their patents more secure, and 
we have no doubt they will succeed." "An attempt will be 
made, it is said, to pick the American lock, and when it is remem- 
bered that our cousins show several locks, all of which are repre- 
sented as perfectly secure, it is high time for our lock makers 
either to show that the American patents are equally unsafe as 
their own, or to acknowledge themselves beaten, and endeavor to 
make better locks for the future." 

The trial was made upon Day & Newell's lock, by one of the 
most expert locksmiths to be found in England, and after a trial 
of thirty days, the lock was returned by the judges, who were 
agreed upon, uninjured, the operator not having made an impress- 
ion upon it. So completely was the security of the American 
locks established, that they were ordered for the Bank of England, 
and in other directions, where safety was required — and a com- 
pany has been organized for their manufacture in England, of 
which Mr. Hobbs is the managing director. 

Prize Medals were awarded to the United States, to Day & Newell 
for their lock (with special approbation,) to Adams & Co., for bank 
lock 'j Arrowsmith, for Permutation locks ; McGregor k Lee for 



144 [Assembly 

bank lock, and the exhibitors claimed equal security with Day & 
Newell's, though they were not put to the test so far as I was in- 
formed. 

Two Bell Telegraphs were exhibited from this country ; one of 
which, C. Rowland, exhibitor, received a medal. The other, 
exhibited by W. T. Brooks, New- York, Jackson's annunciator, 
appeared to me quite equal to How^land's but the Jury thought 
differently, and, doubtless for satisfactory reasons. G. Hotchkiss, 
of Broome County, exhibited his Noddle Iron and Tram Block, for 
saw mills, which have been much approved in this country. Their 
great simplicity and cheapness were recommendations which 
should secure their adoption w^here needed. 

Class 23. Working in Precious Metals , Jewelry ^ Sj'c. — This class 
contained many of the richest specimens of articles of vertu and 
luxury in the Palace. The exhibitors were from England and 
the continent ; the United States not exhibiting until near the 
close, when a service of Gold plate was presented. The Electro- 
plating was of a very rich and interesting character, and many of 
the articles were of such elegance of design, as well as perfection 
of finish, as to arrest the attention of those who were more attract- 
ed by ornament and display, than by utility alone. The Electro 
process was exhibited in the Palace. The operation is thus per- 
formed : Having placed silver in solution in a glass jar, which 
communicates with a battery, by means of a wire, a brass metal 
is attached to another piece of wire, and the metal being im- 
mersed in the solution ; the wire that holds it is hooked on to the 
wires connected with the battery ; the instant the contact of the 
two wires takes place the metal is covered with a coat of silver. 
By the same process, all Electro-plating is performed. Any met- 
als may, by this process, be deposited ; and one part of an article 
may be coated with gold another with silver, a third with platina, 
and so on. I was at Birmingham, and examined Elkington & Co.'s 
establishment, one of the most extensive in the country, and where 
articles of every variety are manufactured. A Council Medal was 
awarded this firm, for their artistic application of the Electrotype. 



No. 126.] 145 

France, Zollrerein, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Ham- 
burg and Sardinia exhibited, most of tliem largely. Jewels and 
Jewelry were among the articles for which prizes were aw^arded. 
The Queen of Spain's Jewels, exhibited by Lamorier, of France, 
were the most attractive in the exhibition, and a Council Medal 
was awarded. 

A large piece of native Gold from California, worth from $3,000 
to $4,000, was exhibited by a London firm. A service of Gold 
Plate made of California gold, a testimonial to E. K. Collins from 
the citizens of New- York, for establishing the American Steam 
Packet Line, attracted much attention for its richness and the 
remarkable purity and beauty of the metal. Some of the exhibi- 
tors of Gold and Silver Plate in the English department had very 
extensive collections -, one, more than one hundred articles of the 
very richest and most expensive character, valued probably at more 
than §100,000. A Silver Table Top, 55 inches in diameter, weigh- 
ing 900 ounces, manufactured for the Pasha of Aleppo by a Bir- 
mingham firm, was among the most expensive of the articles. I 
select from the Zollverein department one of the rich articles which 
received a Council Medal, as illustrative of much of this depart- 
ment, in its liberal expenditure of money on articles, in themselves, 
of little moment — a sett of Chessmen and Board in Renaissance 
style (as it is called) ; the squares of the Board alternately Tor- 
toise Shell and Mother of Pearl. The framework of the stand is 
silver and gold, inlaid with rubies ; each corner the bust of an 
angel, the wings in silver and blue ; the sides ornamented wdth 
silver swans and festoons of gold and rubies. The Chessmen are 
in gold and silver ; the principal figures are costume portraits of 
Emperors of Germany and Kings of France ; their retinue. Knights 
and Castles mounted on elephants, and men at arms for the pawns. 
Rubies are profusely introduced upon the dresses of the principal 
personages and the pedestals. 

The great Koh-i-noor diamond, or mountain of light, belonging 
to the Queen, was exhibited in this class. Its value is noticed else- 

K.— 1852. 



146 ' [Assembly 

where ; its brillianacy was not remarkable, and all the efforts made 
to display it to advantage failed to secure that brilliancy which many 
of the other diamonds had. As this class was peculiarly devoted to 
those articles of vertu andluxury which alone find their way to the 
habitations of the wealthy and are not among those things which spe- 
cially contribute to the real comfort of our world, a description of 
the varied treasures which afforded to the visitors that saw them 
probably as much real enjoyment as to the possessor, would not, it 
is presumed, be desired. 

Class 24. Glass. — This was a very interesting and useful class, 
and the character of the articles exhibited such as to reflect great 
credit upon the exhibitors. The glass with which the Palace was 
mainly covered, made at Birmingham, was a striking illustration 
of the extent to which the manufacture is carried in England. 
The panes of glass on the Palace were 49 inches long. A Glass 
Fountain, the ornament of the Transept, was 27 feet high, of pure 
flint crystal, contained upwards of 4 tons of crystal glass ; the 
principal dish was upwards of 8 feet in diameter, and weighed 
before casting nearly a ton. This was manufactured at Birming- 
ham, and was said to be the largest production of the kind ever 
made. It was one of the most attractive, of the many beautiful 
things in the Palace. Specimens of glass wxre exhibited in all 
stages of its manufacture, and models of furnaces, and the retorts 
and vessels used in the manufacture. Many very rich samples 
of colored glass were shown from several countries : England, 
Zollverein and Prussia, each exhibited some very rich specimens. 
The process of combining colors is thus described : The object 
being formed first in the white transparent and colorless glass and 
allowed to cool until solid, is then dipped for a moment in a vat 
of colored glass in a state of fusion, and being suddenly withdrawn 
it takes away a thin coating of colored glass which immediately 
hardens upon it and becomes incorporated with it. The article is 
then shaped by the glass maker, and if cut, those parts which are 
cut will display the clear transparent glass, those not cut remain- 
ing coated with the color. 



No. 126.] 147 

Samples of plate glass, some of which were of the largest size 
ever manuflictured, were of extraordinary excellence, in the En- 
glish and French departments. 

Chandeliers in great varieties were shown; one to contain 146 
lights, admirably and eftbctively arranged. From this country, the 
Brooklyn Flint Glass Company, celebrated with us for the purity 
of their flint glass, exhibited some very fine specimens of their 
plain glass, to which a Medal was awarded. It compared favor- 
ably with any glass on exhibition of that description, and for its 
purity and fineness was very much applauded by the English 
writers, in their description of articles on exhibition. 

Class 25. — China, Porcelain, Sfc. — There was a large exhibition in 
this class of every variety, from the richest and most expensive wares, 
to those of ordinary use. From the Sevres manufactory in France, 
articles were exhibited surpassing anything of the kind I had ever 
seen, and a Council Medal was awarded for the high art which 
has been attained. Porcelain from England, France, Russia, Den- 
mark, Zollverein, Portugal and Austria, were exhibited. From 
several of the continental nations, the exhibitions were from Gov- 
ernment establishments. Of the common earthen ware, the En- 
glish was far superior to any other. 

Class 26. — Furniture, Pajjer Hangings, Papier Mache. This 
class was very largely represented, and all that luxury could de- 
sire, or moderate means need, was here most strikingly illustrated. 

In one of the London Journals, the foreign contributions were 
thus characterized. "France, Austria, Spain, Germany, Belgium, 
and the United States, have furnished us with the finest specimens 
of their several excellence in cabinet-making, in each of which may 
be traced the mechanical skill and prevailing taste of the present 
time. France is light, elegant, yet convenient in the form of her 
objects ; Austria is heavy, luxurious and colossal, with one or 
two exceptions ; America is smart, original and adaptative, while 
Spain has sent a Table, the wonder of the w'orld, of inlayers and 



148 [Assembly 

marqiieterie-workers ; nor ought we to omit tlie equally surprising 
contributions from the Eternal city, whose mosaic work is one of 
the marvels of the exhibition." 

The French furniture, for elegance of finish as w^ll as beauty 
of design, was superior to any on exhibition ; and three of the 
Council Medals were awarded to France, and one to Austria. 
There was much in the English Department that w^as highly fin- 
ished, and gorgeous in decorations, but as compared with the 
French, I think, decidedly less attractive. 

The Exhibition from the United States was not large, yet our 
chairs, bedsteads &c., were attractive to the visitors, and some of 
them novelties, which many had never before seen. Our rocking 
chairs, and the chairs of the Troy Company, and the reclining chair 
of Eagan of Philadelphia, were examined with no little interest. 
An Honorable Mention was made of the Reclining Chairs ; and 
the chairs of the American Chair Company, Troy, are being man- 
ufactured in England, and are much esteemed. 

Paper Hangings, and Papier Mache goods were largely exhibited, 
and of great variety and richness. The Papier Mache articles 
were remarkably attractive, and articles of almost every variety 
were shown, many of them of the richest description, inlaid with 
with pearl. 

Class 27. Manufactures in Mineral Substances. — This class 
comprises the minerals used in building and decorations ; compri- 
sing the manufacture of ordinary stone for buildings and slate, ce- 
ment and artificial stone, marble, granite and Ornamental work. 
A table in Roman Mosaic from Rome, was awarded a Council Me- 
dal, and it well deserved this distinction. Malachite manufac- 
tured into various articles of furniture and decorations, from Rus- 
sia, received a Council Medal. In the copper mines from which 
the specimens exhibited were taken, a vein of Green Malachite has 
been opened, which is peculiarly rich and of very great extent — 
measuring at the top 9 feet by 18, and the portion uncovered con- 



No. 126.] 149 

tained, it is supposed, lij^lf a million pounds of pure Malachite. 
It admits of a high polish, and was exhibited in large slabs, table 
tops, vases, doors, &c,, and proved one of the most attractive de- 
partments of the Exhibition. The articles exhibited were sold, it 
was said to a wealthy Londoner, for jeiO,000 — nearly §50,000. 

An Honorable Mention was given to the Maryland Soapstone 
Co. for articles made of Soapstone ; and for a Water Vase, from 
Ohio, manufactured fi-om brick clay. 

Class 28. Mumifactures from Animal and Vegetable substances ^ 
kc. — In this class, India Rubber and Gutta Percha goods were 
shown extensively, and the extent and variety of uses to which 
these substances are applied, were perfectly illustrated. The Uni- 
ted States and England were much the largest contributors, the 
exhibitors from the continent being very few. Goodyear, from 
the United States, received a Council Medal for his India Rubber 
Goods, and I think his excelled all others in their extent, as well 
as their adaptation to the various purposes for which they were 
designed, 

A new article, India Rubber Globes, which I had never before 
seen, was shown by him. They are very convenient, can be inflated 
instantly, and suspended for use, and when not wanted, can be 
packed away occupying very little space. They were much 
admired. Pontoons were exhibited, formed of coarse India Rub- 
ber cloth, and were such as were used by our troops in the Mexi- 
can Campaigns. They can be filled with air in a few minutes, 
and permit the passage of troops over rivers, and again emptied, 
and are transported with little trouble. Carriage Wheels, with 
Vulcanized India Rubber, called noiseless wheels, were shown. A 
medal was awarded to the Hayward Rubber Co., United States, for 
shoes. To S. C. Moulton, for India Rubber goods. To J. Fenn, 
of New-York, for beautiful specimens of Ivory work, combs, &c. 

Class 29. Miscellaneous Manufactures. — This, as may be sup- 
posed, was a very miscellaneous department, embracing articles 



150 



[Assembly 



that did not belong, properly, to any otjjer class, and like these 
classes every where, was composed of the most heterogenous 



materials tliat can well be imagined. 



There were Prize Medals aw^arded to the United States for fancy 
Soap, to Eaziu, Xavier, Philadelphia ; to J. Hauel, Philadeli)hia, 
celebrated, the world over, for toilet soaps; J. K. St. John, Buffalo, 
a very valuable preparation called Cadwell, Payson & Co.'s " Ex- 
celsior" Soap. Maryland, for collection of produce ; and preserved 
Peaches, from Cincinnati, Ohio. There were, in this class, two 
very interesting collections ; samples of the imports of the towns 
of Liverpool and Hull. The Liverpool collection embraces the 
following list of articles from the United States and North Ame- 
rica, which will doubtless be of interest. 



Pigs Hair, 

Polar Bear skins, 

Otter, " 

Oppossum, " 

Gray Squirrel, " 

Mink, " 

Sperm Oil, 

Bear's Grease, 

Tallow, 

Bees Wax, 

Peppermint, from N. Y., 

Cranberries, 

Hickory Nuts, 

American Chestnuts, 

Pink Root, 

Sassafras Root, 

Saesafras Bark, 

Rosin, 

Lathe Wood, 

Hops, 

Tobacco, 

Lead Ore, 



Turpentine, 

Quercitron Bark, 

Timothy Seed, 

Clover Seed, 

Rice, 

Wheat and Flour, 

Lidian Corn and Meal, 

Cotton, 

Black Birch Timber, 

Cedar (Pencil,) 

American Ash, 

Birds' E} e Maple, 

American Walnut, 

Texican Oak, 

Masts and Spars, 

Pine Timber, 

Oars, &c., 

Chromate of Iron, 

Phosphate of Lime, 

Barytes, 

Felspnr, 

Asphaltum. 



No. 126.] 151 

Candles were shown in great perfection, and tlie quality was 
remar]i:ably superior. Some from New-Yorli were apparently equal 
to any exhibited. The aid of Chemistry has been sought in their 
manufiicture with great sjiccess, and candles are preferred for house- 
hold use, to a very large extent in England. 

Corn Brooms, from this country, were exhibited, of very great 
perfection, and they attracted no little attention as they were 
objects of curiosity to the great portion of the visitors who had 
never before seen a broom of this description. D. D. T. More, of 
Watervliet, New-York, had some very superior ones, and all on 
exhibition were well made. 

Maps. — Tliere was a number of exhibitors of Maps from this 
State, and though in point of execution the maps did not equal many 
exhibited, yet the very moderate price at which they were sold, 
attracted notice. Bid well. Col ton, Disturnell, New-York, and 
others, were exhibitors. Mrs. EmmaWillard, Troy, exhibited her 
educational charts, accompanied by instructions for their use in 
schools. These elicited frequent inquiries. A painting of wild 
flowers, of Western New-York, by Miss Agnes Jeffreys, of Canan- 
daigua, was very attractive. 

Preparations of stuffed animals were shown in this class. Among 
the most cuiious collection was one of Ploucquet in the Zollverein 
department. He had a museum illustrating the story of " Reynard, 
the Fox," in his own skin, in all the different characters described 
in the ancient romance ; and a very striking collection of Birds, 
and animals representing scenes from nature, most life-like illus- 
trations. A Boar hunt was also illustrated to perfection. A Medal 
was awarded him. A very fine collection of Birds and small 
animals, prepared by J. A. Hurst of Albany, was exhibited, and 
there were few collections which, for its extent, were more artisti- 
cally arranged. 

In the India department there was a very interesting collection 
of clay figures, representing the various Hindoo arts and profes- 



IM [Assembly 

sions, manufactured in India. And from Turkey, from the Sultan, 
a collection of pipes that excelled any thing of the kind I have 
ever seen. 

Ezekiel Page, New- York, exhibited a large assortment of his 
celebrated oars, which secured much favor with the watermen and 
very large orders were received, and I am informed that he has 
arranged for their manufacture in London. 

Class 30, Sculptures^ Models, &c. — The exhibition in this class 
was extensive, and most of it of a high character as works of art 
and skill, but as I have no pretensions, as a connoiseur, in this 
department, and as a mere description would be of little interest, 
I shall briefly allude to it. 

From this country, Powers' Greek Slave was the most finished 
work, and although it received only a Prize Medal, it was, in the 
opinion of many, entitled to a Council Medal. A young artist, by 
the name of Stephenson, from this country, exhibited a statue of 
a wounded Indian, which was a very striking one, and possessed 
much merit, and several of the distinguished sculptors at the 
exhibition expressed the highest admiration of it. A Council 
Medal was awarded to Kiss, of Berlin, for the Amazon and Tiger, 
cast in zinc and bronzed. I believe the justness of this award was 
acknowledged by all. A model of it is to be seen at the Agricul- 
tural Rooms. Baron Marochetti's Coeur de Leon in plaster; 
Phryne, in marble, by Pradia, France ; and Glycera, in marble, 
by the late E. J. Wyatt, of England, were the other subjects which 
received Council Medals. The justness of these awards was ques- 
tioned by some who were competent judges. There were some 
admirable exhibitions of Chromolithography, for which prizes 
were awarded. 

I have concluded what I have deemed necessary to remark in 
relation to the articles on exhibition. I have but glanced at the 
Exhibition itself— as it was entirely impracticable, within any reason- 
able limits, to have given even a notice of the offerings of 17,000 



No. 126.] 153 

exhibitors, many of whom exhibited hundreds of articles. My 
design lias been to call attention to tliose portions which were, in 
my opinion, most useful to this country, and to such of the 
articles as were worthy of notice from their ingenuity, or 
from other circumstances. There were exhibited, from this coun- 
try, a very great variety of useful articles, which I have not had 
time nor space to notice. 

I have given, in connection with this report, a list of the contri- 
butions from this State, the awards made to this country, and a list 
of the jurors selected from the United States, so far as they were 
registered by the Royal Commissioners. I have taken the list of 
articles entered in this State, from the minutes of the special 
committee appointed by Gov. Fish, which includes the articles en- 
tered previous to the sailing of the St. Lawrence, and were under 
the charge of Mr. C. F. Stansbury, who on his arrival, took charge 
of the United States Department, and continued to act until the 
arrival of Mr. Riddle, the commissioner selected by the Central 
Authority at Washington. 

It would have been gratifying to me, while at the Exhibition, 
to have made observations, more fully than I was enabled 
to do, on account of my engagements as one of the Jurors. The 
Jury upon the class to which I was appointed. Agricultural Im- 
plements and Machinery, could not complete their labors until 
some weeks after the other jurors had finished theirs, and made 
their reports. The importance, however, of giving attention to 
the duties connected with the trials of implements before the Jury, 
was deemed paramount to every other consideration, and I there- 
fore, to the best of my ability, devoted myself to the completion 
of that portion of my duties. The result has been such as to leave 
no cause for regret, that so much time was devoted to the subject; 
as I am satisfied, that without a thorough trial, it would have been 
impracticable to have arrived at practical results which would 
have been satisfactory to the great number of intelligent gentle- 
men present from the various countries represented, who were 



154 [Assembly 

deeply anxious to ascertain everything tliat would be likely to be 
advantageous to the industrial interests of their respective coun- 
tries. 

It is impossible to anticipate all the beneficial results that will 
flow from this great gathering of the people, and the exhibition of 
the products of the industry of all nations. That it is to have a most 
important and salutary influence upon the industrial progress of the 
world, appears to me most manifest. Its bearing upon the social con- 
dition of the world, cannot, I think, be otherwise than gratifying to 
every well wisher to the progress and advancement of our race. 
Here, for the first time in the history of the world, have the repre- 
sentatives of every nation of importance met together in friendly 
intercourse, to show each other what was the state of their domestic 
industry, in its various departments — and to learn from the contri- 
butions of other countries, where they were excelled, and in what 
direction improvements to their advantage might be secured. 
Here too was shown, by the very exhibition itself, that the best 
interests of each nation could be far more profitably secured 
by this peaceful intercourse, than by any other means what- 
ever; and a lesson was here most strikingly taught, of the de- 
pendance which after all, exists among nations. By a wise 
ordination of Providence, it is most manifest, that every portion of 
the Globe where civilization and science, with all their attendant 
blessings have been enjoyed, has some advantages not peculiar to 
other portions of the world, and by which they are made benefi 
cial to others, receiving from them like returns. 

It appears to me that some striking peaceful lessons were given 
that will not soon be forgotten, and though commotion and con- 
tention may and doubtless will continue, yet the influence of this 
friendly meeting of the nations of the world will tend to soften 
the asperities of national differences and will, I trust, in not a few 
instances prevent the resort to arms to avenge fancied or real 
wrongs, and lead to the adoption of some measures that will secure 
redress of a peaceful and happy character. 



I 

■ No. 126.] 155 

It may well be imagined that this exhibition will be a starting 
point for the development of the inventive talent and ingenuity of 
the world. Here was shown, to a good degree at least, the pro- 
gress which has been made, the perfection which has been attained 
in the various department of arts, manufactures, mechanicism and 
science. Here the inventor saw the machine exhibited which ac- 
complished the very thing he had long aimed to secure, but with- 
out success. The manufacturer, too, here discovered a perfection 
in the process connected with his department which he had long 
desired, but perhaps scarcely hoped ever to see accomplished. 
Who can tell, the importance of the invention of the Power Loom 
of Bigelow for weaving Brussels Carpets, which here for the first 
time was made a reality before the world — accomplishing what had 
baffled hitherto the skill of the mightiest intellects of the old world, 
which had been ardently and for years unsuccessfully devoted to this 
object, and which, but for this exhibition, might long have been 
devoted to the same end without success. Now^ a new field is opened 
I for the inventors of the world, and we may anticipate that new 
' and valuable inventions will be brought forth in this branch of 
domestic industry, when the talent of the world shall be brought 
to beai- upon new discoveries which w^ill secure advances in this 
department. I might illustrate this I think equally satisfactory in 
almost every portion of the exhibition, from articles exhibited or 
inventions for the first time made known before the world. 

It appears to me that the nations here represented will, m a 
measure, be prepared to commence from the various points of ex- 
cellence which the exhibition presented, and every effort of mind 
of the inventor, the mechanic, the manufacturer and the artizan 
will sooner or later be made to tell favorably upon the world's 
progress in all that contributes to its well being. 

To those present, one of the most interesting facts connected 
with the exhibition itself was, the expression of surprise and 
astonishment which weie often expressed by learned, scientific and 
intelligent men, in almost every station of life, at the discoveries 
made at the exhibition, sliowing that it was making a deep 



156 —[Assembly 

impression upon many minds in the direction to -which I have re- 
terred. I have no doubt that the number is not small of those 
who have discovered on a careful examination of the articles pre- 
sented, that the very thing which was present to the mind, but which 
as yet could not be fully elucidated and brought out on real work- 
ing principles, was here practically developed • and that now, instead 
of devoting years of labor to the accomplishment of the desired ob- 
ject, an opportunity has been presented for the employment of all 
their talent and ingenuity in the attainment of still higher perfection 
in the departments to which their energies have been devoted. 

Some striking facts, it appears to me, are developed in a com- 
parison of the contributions from different countries. From many 
of the Continental Nations, the Government comes forward as an 
exhibitor — and in these cases, the exhibitions, by individuals, are 
comparatively few — and here great prominence is given to rich 
and luxurious articles, prepared and designed for the few, as com- 
pared with those made for the masses of the people. This was 
peculiarly observable, on a hasty examination even, of the exhibi 
tion, and led many, in its early stages, who were attracted by the 
splendor and show of this class of articles, to speak very lightly, 
indeed, of the contributions from this country, which were of an 
entirely different character. 

The exhibition from the United States, and that from England, 
to a very great extent, showed that private enterprize had fur- 
nished the contributions exhibited — and so far as this country 
was concerned, the character of our contributions was such as to 
meet the wants and necessities of the great body of the people. 
The exhibition was a most instructive lesson as to the direction 
which improvement takes, when left to the free and independ- 
ent energies of the people themselves — and it appeared to me, 
during the progress of the exhibition, and especially towards its 
close, that this impression was deepening upon many minds — and 
producing most salutary effects, leading many to think seri- 
ously of the great advantages which must, of necessity, result, 
from affording a free scope to any people, to exercise their talent 



I 



No. 126.] 157 

aud ingenuity for the benefit of themselves and others, instead of 
being restrained by arbitrary restrictions and customs which con- 
fined them and their posterity, to one round of business from which 
no deviation could be made. 

I have not attempted a critical comparison between the industrial 
products shown, which would illustrate, very satisfactorily, the ca- 
pabilities of the respective countries, as developed in the Exhibition. 
It is very desirable that this should be done by some one qualified 
for the work, and wlio devoted himself specially to it. Should this 
be performed with care, and the results given to the w^orld, it w^ill, 
doubtlessly prove one of the most practically useful lessons which 
can be drawn from this collection of the products of the world. 

There are lessons, however, to be drawn from this Exhibition which 
will prove highly useful and important to the United States. In all 
that relates to the first principles of design, in the various branches of 
arts and manufactures, we are very deficient as compared with many 
of the Continental Nations — and this remark also applies to Great 
Britain, to a very considerable extent. The great superiority of 
several of the Continental Nations, and of India, was most ob- 
vious to every careful observer. In some of the nations, schools 
of design have long been in existence, and the beauty of their 
designs in various manufactures and fabrics, was most striking as 
compared with others. The Indian Department also furnished 
specimens of art certainly equal, if not superior, to any thing on 
exhibition. That an improvement will be most favorably devel- 
oped in the manufactures of England, as well as in this country, 
I think cannot be questioned. Evidence of this has already 
appeared in England, since the close of the Exhibition, as the 
following notice of the selections made from the Exhibition for 
the Government School of Design will show. 

It is said, " The Indian display has, as might have been expected, 
contributed most largely to this collection. The best eastern skill 
in muslins and other textile fabrics, has been secured for the 
instruction of our designers. Specimens of metallic inlay ings, 



1 58 [Assembly 

enamels and earthen ware have been purchased to teach graceful- 
ness of form and harmonious arrangement of colors. The objects 
selected from India, promise to exercise a most favorable influence 
upon our industry, in a large number of departments. Next to 
India, selections have been made chiefly from France — enamelling 
from Sevres for the instruction of our potters — and textile fabrics 
from Tunis and Turkey, and ornamental hardware from Belgium." 

I shall be greatly disappointed if many of our citizens who 
were there, interested in the manufacturing establishments of this 
country, have not availed themselves liberally of articles exhibited, 
which will enable them to give new beauty and finish to their 
fabrics, and successfully, to compete, eventually, with the manufac- 
tures of any other nation. 

In all that pertains more especially to the domestic and industri- 
al pursuits, in which the great masses of every nation are interest- 
ed ; lessons will be taught through the exhibition, to the nations on 
the Continent and the Eastern world, that will eventually, though 
probably not as rapidly as in the former case, advance these nations 
who are evidently greatly deficient, and whose citizens at the Exhibi- 
tion, for the first time probably, were made fully conscious of the ex- 
tent of their deficiency. The exhibitions from Great Britain and the 
United States will prove most instructive to these nations ; and the 
large orders which were given for articles for these various countries, 
showed that they were appreciated, and that an efibrt would be made 
to introduce them into practical use where heretofore they were en- 
tirely unknown. The representatives from the agricultural society in 
Normandy, one of the best cultivated portions of France, selected ten 
varieties of plows from those on exhibition by Starbuck, of Troy, and 
they assured me that they anticipated more advantage to their dis- 
trict of country from the introduction of these implements than from 
any other cause connected with the Exhibition. The same may be 
said of Switzerland, where our implements Avere taken, as well as 
various other portions of the Continent. This is rendered more pro- 
bable, as the demand for our implements from various portions of 
Europe, has very largely increased since the close of the exhibition. 



No. 126.] 159 

The exhibition has very fiivorably demonstrated, that our Insti- 
tutions are admirably adapted to the development of tlie talent 
and ingenuity of our citizens, and the testimony given by a 
leading Journal in England, is appropriate, in elucidating this 
fact. 

The writer, in speaking of the contributions from the United States, 
at a late day of the Exhibition, after dwelling at length upon the very 
different character of the contributions from the continent, and from 
England says : "Their industrial system, unfettered by ancient usage, 
and by the pomp and magnificence which our social institutions 
countenance is essentially democratic in its tendencies. They pro- 
duce for the masses, and for a wholesale consumption. There is 
hardly anything shown by them, which is not easily within the 
reach of the most moderate fortune. No Government favoritism 
raises any branch of manufactures to a pre-eminence which secures 
for it the patronage of the wealthy. Everything is intrusted to 
the ingenuity of individuals, who look for their reward to public 
demand alone. With an immense command of raw produce, they 
do not, like many other countries, skip over the wants of the many, 
and rush to supply the luxuries of the few. On the contrary, 
they have turned their attention eagerly and successfully to ma- 
chinery, as the first stage in their industrial progress. They seek 
to supply the short comings of their labor market, and to combine 
utility with cheapness. 

The most ordinary commodities are not beneath their notice, 
and even nursery chairs are included in their collection of 
" notions." They have beaten us in Yacht building, they pick 
our best locks, they show us how to reap corn by machinery, and 
to make Brussels carpets by the power loom. Our coopers will 
hear wuth dismay, and our brewers with satisfaction, that by an 
invention of theirs recently introduced into the Exhibition, one 
man can do the work of twenty in stave-making, and far more 
efficiently. Such triumphs do not much affect the mechanical 
superiority of the mother country, but they serve to show, that 
while on the one side nations less free and enlightened than ours, 



160 [Assembly 

teach us how to throw a luster and grace over the peaceful arts ; 
our own children are now and then able to point out how we can 
improve and extend them." 

I have given these remarks, because they were drawn out by 
the results of the trial of our implements, which led to a more 
candid and thorough examination of all we had on exhibition, 
and elicited this tribute to American Institutions, and the en- 
terprize of our citizens ; and it is also the more readily given, as 
it was the very conclusion, which at an early day in the Exhi- 
bition, was presented to a distinguished Journalist, as the one 
to which he would be constrained to come, when an oppor- 
tunity was alforded us, of practically demonstrating the value 
of our implements, which were then untried. It is important 
also, as showing the great change which had taken place in the 
public mind in regard to the American quarter, which instead of 
being the " Prairie Ground," as in derision called, became the ob- 
served of all observers. 

As a further evidence of the practical character and adaptation 
of many of our articles to the wants of the age, I give another 
extract from the same journal, in an article giving an account of 
the progress made by the British and Americans tlirough the trials 
of the season. After alluding to the British portion of the contri- 
butions, it is remarked of the American, " On the other hand, it is 
beyond all denial, that every practical success of the season belongs 
to the Americans. Their consignments showed poorly, at first, but 
came out well upon trial. Their reaping machine has carried con- 
viction to the heart of the British Agriculturist. Their revolvers 
threaten to revolutionize military tactics, as completely as the origi- 
nal discovery of gunpowder. Their Yacht takes a class to itself. 
Of all the victories ever won, none has been so transcendant as that 
of the New -York Schooner. The account given of her performance, 
suggests the inapproachable excellence attributed to JUPITER, 
by the ancient poets, who describe the King of the Gods as being 
not only supreme, but having none other next to him. ^ What's 
firsts' « The America.' 'What's second 1' < Nothing.' Besides this, 



No. 126.] 161 

the Baltic, one of COLLINS' line of steamers, has ^ made the fastest 
passage yet known, across the Atlantic,' and, according to the 
American journals, has been purchased by British agents ^ for the 
purpose of towing the Cunard vessels from one shore of the ocean 
to the other.' Finally, as if to crown the triumphs of the year, 
Americans have actually sailed through the Isthmus, connecting 
the two continents of the New World, and while Englishmen have 
been doubting and grudging, Yankees have stepped in and won 
the day. So we think, on the whole, that we may afford to shake 
hands and exchange congratulations, after which we must learn 
as much as we can from each other." In concluding another 
article on the Exhibition, it is said, "Great Britain has re- 
ceived more useful ideas and more ingenious inventions from the 
United States, through the exhibition, than from all other 
sources." 

I have given these extracts in preference to any remarks of my 
own, on the general success of our contributions at this Great 
Exhibition. They show, most conclusively, what were the opin- 
ions of those competent to judge, as it regarded that class of our 
articles which every American at the Exhibition, familiar with 
them and our country, claimed as illustrative of our improvements, 
and as showing the advances which had been made — and this 
testimony is the more valuable, as given by those who had, at an 
early day, committed themselves by their published opinions of 
the meagerness of our Exhibition, and the inferiority of our arti- 
cles. With a manliness, however, which I found every where 
among intelligent gentlemen in England, when the trial demon- 
strated the value of our articles, the amende was made in the 
fullest and most gratifying manner. 

I am fully sensible that, as a country, we have much to learn in 
every direction, and this has been, to my mind, most clearly shown 
in the Exhibition ; and I shall be greatly mistaken in my country- 
men if they do not largely profit by the lessons which this great Ex- 
hibition has taught them. Not an intelligent American who visited 

L.— 1852. 



162 [Assembly 

the Exhibition, and examined Jts contributions with care and at- 
tention, but must have been led to the conclusion, that in it there 
was much every way calculated, if rightly improved, to benefit 
his country — to enlarge not only our views as to the capabilities of 
other countries, but to satisfy us of our deficiencies and to encour- 
age us so to direct our energies to still higher attainments in every 
branch of domestic industry- that we may, as a nation, not only be 
independent, in a great degree at least, of other countries, so far 
as the leading articles necessary for our own comfort are concerned, 
but also be enabled to supply others with a great variety of arti- 
cles which heretofore we have never done. 

It appears to me from all that has been developed by the 
Exhibition, so far as the character of our country is concerned and 
its resources have been shown, the result of this meeting togeth- 
er of the nations of the world in friendly rivalry, will not prove 
unfavorable ; and if we but improve, as we may and as I trust we 
shall, from the lessons here given, we shall be prepared when another 
convocation shall be held, after a few years shall have elapsed and 
time has been given to develope the fruits of this, to show to the 
world that we have not been inattentive to these lessons. We should, 
however bear in mind that the same influences which operate 
upon us will more or less affect others, and that no ordinary at- 
tainments will enable us fully to compete with those who are now 
far advanced in many departments and who may be expected to 
redouble their efforts to retain a position which they have long 
maintained. 

The Exhibition most clearly showed, that science and art have 
done much for the advance which has been made in every branch of 
manufacture, and I think it may with safety be affirmed that whenever 
science or art was put in requisition, there progress was shown su- 
perior to others. This lesson I trust will not be lost upon this coun- 
try, but that it will be so improved as to lead to renewed efforts, to 
a more complete and thorough education in every branch of arts and 
manufactures, that we may not only keep pace with the world's pro- 
gress, but make such advances as will secure to us a pre-eminence. 



No. 126.] 163 

A strong desire was manifested among the representatives of 
foreign nations, that an exhibition of a like extended National char- 
acter should be held in this country at some future period. This 
exhibition has brought our country to the notice of the world as it 
has never been presented before ; and an anxiety is manifested to 
come and see what this new world is doing, not only, but how it is, 
that in so short a period it has been able to compete successfully 
upon the theater of this Great Exhibition with the oldest nations 
of the world. Let us then be prepared for that event, and 
when prepared, let us give, as a Nation, such an opportunity for the 
world to be present and compete with us, as has been afforded us by 
the liberality of England. It will be a proud day for our country 
and for those who may be spared to participate in an exhibition 
which, so far as the progress which shall be made in every 
thing that will have a bearing upon the best interests of man- 
kind in every department, will doubtless as far exceed the Great 
Industrial Exhibition of all J\^ations of 1851, as that has excelled all 
tliat have preceded it. 

I cannot, in justice to my own feelings and sense of duty close 
this report, without recording my testimonial to the Royal Com- 
missioners and the Executive Committee, under whose direction 
and management, the whole Exhibition was arranged and carried 
out, for their unwearied exertions to afford every possible facility 
for a fair and impartial adjudication upon the articles which were 
presented. Their efforts were unremitting, and their arrange- 
ments such as to secure as far as could be done, a thorough and 
satisfactory examination of everything presented for the decision 
of the Jurors. 

To His Excellency Mr. Lawrence, the United States Minister, 
every American present will unite with me in an award of most 
heartfelt thanks, for his endeavors previous to and during the ex- 
hibition, to secure a favorable result for the contributions of his 
countrymen, and at the same time, to present in a proper view the 
country itself through the Exhibition. The favorable result of 
our whole exhibition was in no small degree secured by his ex- 



164 [Assembly 

ertions, in bringing properly before the Royal Commissioners and 
Jurors, the contributions from this country. His attentions to his 
countrymen, in the midst of his numerous and pressing official en- 
gagements, were most gratifying, and left nothing for them to 
desire, which his kindness and foresight, had not provided for their 
gratification, and for a proper appreciation of every thing in the 
country which it was desirable for them to become familiar with. 

To Mr. George Peabody of London, whose name is familiar to 
Americans who have visited Great Britain for years past, 
every American connected with the Exhibition, owes a debt of 
gratitude which cannot be repaid. His attentions were unremit- 
ting to his countrymen, and to his kindness and liberality were 
they indebted, on a foreign shore, for a suitable opportunity of pay- 
ing due attention to that day memorable in our history, as the day 
on which we were declared free and independent. And in addition 
to this, it was owing to his liberality in furnishing the necessary 
means, that the contributions from this country were arranged in a 
manner creditable to the country. 

Mr. Pishey Thompson of London, long a resident in this coun- 
try, was a most valuable and discreet friend and counsellor to 
Americans ; myself as well as many of my countrymen, were un- 
der great obligations to him, for his unremitting exertions, to con- 
tribute in every way in his power to the advancement of our 
interests, and in securing for us a proper position in the Exhibition. 
I feel that this tribute to him, is justly due for his most praise- 
worthy and eflQ.cient aid. 

The United States Commissioner, Edward Riddle, Esq., had very 
arduous duties imposed upon him by his position, and while present, 
devoted his entire energies to their discharge. In his absence to this 
country, during the most laborious part of the Exhibition, his As- 
sistant, N. S. Dodge, Esq., acted as Commissioner, and discharged 
his duties with great credit to himself and with benefit to the ex- 
hibitors. Charles F. Stansbury, Esq. of Washington, who had 
charge of the American department, previous to the arrival of Mr. 



No. 126.] 165 

Riddle, did good service to tliis country, and I anticipate from 
tlie mission witli wliiclihe was subsequently charged, to report upon 
the exhibition to the Department of the Interior, that one of the 
most valuable contributions will be received from him which the 
exhibition has called forth. 

There were many other gentlemen who were officially engaged 
in the management of the Exhibition, to whom I would most glad- 
ly tender my thanks for the very many attentions received from 
them, which very materially facilitated the discharge of the duties 
imposed upon those who were connected with the Exhibition 
either as jurors or exhibitors. 

To Your Excellency, I am greatly indebted for the Honor of at- 
tending, in behalf of our State, this Great Exhibition of Industry. 
I have endeavored to the best of my ability to discharge the trust that 
was reposed in me ; if I have failed in doing so, it has not been 
from want of an ardent desire to do all in my power, fairly to present 
the claims of the citizens of our State and of our country, as illus- 
trated in the contributions which were presented. 

In receiving my commission at the hands of Your Excellency, 
you were pleased to say to me, " I expect you faithfully to represent 
the interests and honor of the State of New-York, wiiose represen- 
tative you now are." Ever bearing in mind the injunction I re- 
ceived, I endeavored so to fulfil the duties of my appointment, as 
to afford no cause for regret when those duties ceased ; and in pre- 
senting to Youi' Excellency this report, imperfect as it is, I submit 
it, as evidence of my earnest endeavor faithfully to carry out the 
desire you expressed. 

I am most respectfully yours, 

B. P. JOHNSON. 

Albany, March 15th, 1852. 



LIST OF AMERICAN JURORS 

AT THE EXHIBITION, AS PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS. 

Class 3. Hon. Aslibel Smith, Texas. 

4. Hon. E. S. Duncan, Virginia. 

5. Robert McCarthy, New-York. 

Suh- Jury ^ for Carriages. — 0. McDaniel, New Jersey. 

Class 6. S. Webber, Massachusetts. 

7. Dr. J. V. C. Smith, Virginia. 

8. A. Whitney, Virginia. 

9. C. M. Lampson, London. 
B. P. Johnson, New- York. 

10. R. A. Leslie, R. A., London. 
Sub- Jury J Musical Intruments. — Dr. J. Robert, Black, Kentucky. 
Sub- Jury y Surgical Instruments. — Dr. Thomas, Chadboui'ne, New- 
Hampshire. 

Class 11. Col. R. E. Coxe, Pennsylvania. 

15. N. Kingsbury, Connecticut. 
John H. Swift, New-York. 
Frederick Schwann. 

16. J. S. Cunningham, Virginia. 

17. Henry Stevens, Vermont. 

18. J. M. Beebe. 

20. Elliot Cresson, Pennsylvania. 

22. Hon. Horace Greely, New- York, (Chairman and mem- 
ber of Council of Chairmen.) 
24. Lucius C. Duncan, Louisiana. 

28. Rev. Gorham D. Abbot, Maine. 

29. W. K. Smith. 



AWARDS, 

Made by the Royal Commissioners j to American contributors at the 
Great Industrial Exhibition of all nations at London, 1851. 

Class I : Mining &c. Prize Medals. — ^Adirondack Steel, and 
Iron Company, New- York, for Steel and Iron. 

Morris, Jones & Co., Philadelphia, for Plate Iron. 

New-Jersey Exploring and Mining Company, for Zinc Ores, Iron 
(Franklinite) Ores, Smelting Process, &c. 

Trenton Iron Co., New-Jersey, for Iron of fine quality. Ores kc. 
Honorable Mention. — Adirondack Co., New- York, Cast Iron &c. 

Morrel, Stewart & Co., Ohio, for Sheet Iron. 

Morris, Jones & Co., Philadelphia, for Boiler Plate Iron. 

Class II : Chemical Preparations, kc. Prize Medal. — ^Power 
& Weightman, Philadelphia, for Chemicals. 
Honorable Mention. — Wetherill Brothers, Phil., Chemicals. 

Class III: Substances used for Food. Council Medal. — ^Bor- 
den Gail, Jr., Texas, for Preparation of Meat Biscuit* 
Prize Medals. — Barnes, W., Vermont, for Maple Sugar. 

Bell, Thomas, Harlem, New- York, for Soule's Wheat. 

Dean, L., Vermont, for Maple Sugar. 

Dill k Mulcahey, Virginia, for Cavendish Tobacco. 

Duffield, C, Louisville, Ky.,for Hams. 

Grant, J. H., Va., for Cavendish Tobacco. 

Hecker & Brother, N. Y., for Flour from Genesee Wheat. 

Herriott, E. T., South Carolina, for Carolina Rice. 

Kirtland, B. B., Greenbush, N. Y., for Maize, 35 varieties. 

New-York State Agricultural Society, for Collection of Wheats 
raised by Gen. Roswell Harmon, Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. Y. 

Raymond k Schuyler, West Farms, N. Y., for Flour from Gene- 
see Wheat. 

Robinson, P., Va., for Cavendish Tobacco. 

Schooley & Hough, Cincinnati, for Hams. 
Honorable Mention. — Bridge, John, for Oil Cake. 



No. 126.] 169 

Domiiiick, George, Ohio, for Lard, 
Hecker & Brotlier, N. Y., for Farina. 
Hotchkiss W., Lewiston, N. Y., for Soule's Wheat., 
Lee, James, & Co., Mass. for Oil Cake. 
Mookler & Childs, Ohio, for Cavendish Tobacco. 
Oswego Starch Factory, Oswego, N. Y., T. Kingsford & Sons ma- 
nufacturers, for Fecula of Maize. 
Oyler & Anderson, Va. for Cavendish Tobacco. 
Thomas, James, for Cavendish Tobacco. 
Thomas & Co., for Cavendish Tobacco. 
White, M., New-Orleans, for Muscovado Sugar. 

Class IV. Vegetable and animal substances used in Man- 
ufactures, &c. 

Prize Medals. — Bond S., Tennessee, for Cotton. 

Cockerill, Ten., for Wool. 

Colegate & Co., N. Y., for Starch. 

Hampton, W. S. C, for Cotton. 

Hicks, George, for Tillandsia usnoides. 

Holmes, G. L., Tenn., for Cotton. 

Hotchkiss, H. G. k L. B., N. Y., for Oil of Peppermint. 

Jones, J. E., S. C, for Cotton. 

Jones, J. v., " forCotton. 

Kimber, A. M., & Co., Penn. for Wool. 

Macleod, W. W., S. C, for Cotton. 

Maryland State, for Collection of Produce. 

Merriwether, J. B., Alabama, for Cotton. 

Nailor, J., Mississippi, for Cotton. 

Oswego Starch Factory, Oswego, N. Y., T. Kingsford & Sons, for 
Starch. 

Perkins & Brown, Ohio, for Wool. 

Pope, J., Tenn., for Cotton. 

Seabrook, W., S. C, for Cotton. 

Strean, J. G., Penn., (entered by mistake in the name of J. H. 
Ewing,) for Wool. 

Thompson, Rev. Z., Vt., for Woods. 
Honorable Mention. — Dix, E. R., N. Y., for Flax, Hemp, &c. 



170 [Assembly 

Dominick, George, Ohio, for Lard Oil. 

Emory, T., « « 

Feutchwanger Dr. L., N. Y., for Bleached Shellac. 

Frank, F., Ohio, for Lard Oil. 

Goddard, L., for Whale Bone. 

Holbrook k Stanly, Ohio, for Lard Oil. 

Kitteridge, F. 0., New Hampshire, for Corn-husk fiber. 

Pell, R. J., New- York, for Woods. 

Truesdale, Jacobs & Co., New- York, for Cotton. 

Class 5. Carriages, &c. Childs, C. for a slide top Buggy. 
Watson, G. W., Philadelphia, for Sporting Wagon. 

Class 6. Manufacturing Machines and Tools. Council Medal. — 

Dick,D., J. E. Holmes agent. New- York, for Anti-friction press- 
es and Engineers tools. 

Prize Medals. — LeRow & Blodget, New- York, for Rotary Sewing 
Machine. 

Earl, T. K. k Co., Massachusetts, for Card Clothing. 

Hay den, W., Connecticut, for Drawing Regulator for Cotton. 

Lowell Machine Shop, (Massachusetts,) for Self-acting lathe and 
Power Loom. 

Morey, C, Massachusetts, for Eastman's stone cutting machine. 

Starr, Charles, New- York, for Book Binding Machine. 

Woodbury, J. P., Massachusetts, for Wood Planing Machine. 

Class 7. Civil Engineering, &c. Prize Medal. Iron Bridge 
Co., New- York, for Model of Rider's patent Iron Bridge. 

Class 8. Naval Architecture, &c. Ordnance, Armor, &c.- . 
Prize Medals. National Institute, Washington, for Models of 

Ships of War and Merchant Vessels. 
St. John, J. R., Buffalo, N. Y., for Nautical Compass, purporting to 
show the presence of any disturbing forces upon the needle : 
and to show the amount of the deflection resulting from these 
causes. 



No. 126.] 171 

Honor ahh Mention. — Colt, Samuel, Connecticut, for Revolving Ri- 
fles and Pistols. 
Palmer, W. R., New- York, for Target Rifle. 
Robbins & Lawrence, Vermont, for Military Rifles 

Class 9. Agricultural Implements, &c. Council Medal. — Mc- 
Cormick, C. H., Illinois, for Reaping Machine. 
Prize Medal. — Prouty& Mears, Boston, Massachusetts, for Plow. 

Class 10. Philosophical Instruments, &c. Council Medal. — 

Bond, William & Son, Massachusetts, for the invention of a new 
mode of observing Astronomical phenomena, &c. 

Prize Medals. — Bache, A. D., District Columbia, for Balances. 

Brady, M. B., New- York, for Daguerreotypes. 

Burt, W. A., Michigan, for Solar Compass, Surveying Instru- 
ments. 

Ericcson, J., New- York, for Sea Lead, Pyrometer, &c. 

Lawrence, M, M., New- York, for Daguerreotypes. 

Whipple, J. A., Mass., for Daguerreotype of the Moon. 

Honorable Mention, — Mayall, J. E.. for Photographs. 

Class X. A. Musical Instruments. — Prize Medals. — Chick- 

ering, J., Massachusetts, for square Piano Forte. 
Eisenbrant, C. H., Maryland, for Clarionettes and Flutes. 
Gemunder, G., Mass., for a Violin, Joseph Guaruerius, (chiefly) 

and three other Violins and a Viola. 
Meyer, C, Penn., for two Piano Fortes. 

Nunns, R. & Clark, New-York, for 7 octave, square Piano Forte. 
Honorable Mention. — Gilbert & Co., Mass., for Piano Forte with 

^olian Attachment. 
Goodyear, C, Conn., for the successful application of India 

Rubber, for the manufacture of a Flute. 
Hews, C, Mass., for a square Piano Forte. 
Pirsson, J., New- York, for a patent square Piano Forte. 
Money Award. — Wood, J. S., Virginia, for the expenses incurred 

in constructing his Piano Violin, X50. 



172 [Assembly 

Class X. C. Surgical. — Prize Medal. — Palmer, B. F., Mass., 
for Artificial Leg. 

Class XI, Cotton Goods. Prize Medals, — Amoskeag Manufac- 
turing Co., Mass., for Drillings, Tickings, Sheetings and Cotton 
Flannels. 

Willimantic Duck Manufacturing Co., Conn., for Cotton Sail 
Cloth. 

Class XII, Woolen and Worsted. Prize Medal. — Gilbert & 

Stevens, Mass., for Flannels. 
Honorable Mention. — Holden, B. T & D., Mass., for Blankets. 

Class 1 5 : Shawls, &c. Prize Medal. — ^Lawrence, Stone & Co., 
Massachusetts, for Tartans made from native wool. 

Class 16 : Leather, Harness, &c. Prize Medals. — ^Baker, J. B., 
Massachusetts, for Light Harness. 

Crawford, A. M., Pennsylvania, for Calf skins tanned in oak. 
Hickley & TuU, Pennsylvania, for two Portmanteaus. 
Lacey & Phillips, Pennsylvania, for a Case of Harness. 
Wisdom, Russell & Whitman, Ohio, for specimens curled hair 

for furniture. 
Honorable Mention. — Adams, H., New- York, for Portable Saddle. 

Class 17 : Paper, Printing, Book Binding. Prize Medals. — 

Herrick, J. K., New-York, for Superior ruling of account books. 

Howe, S. G., Massachusetts, for a System of characters, slightly 
angular in form, without capitals, for the blind. 

Honorable Mention. — Bradley, Band & Co., Massachusetts, for 
Book cloth binding and Block gilding. 

Gassett, H., Massachusetts, for Superior ruling of account books. 

McAdams, J. & W., Massachusetts, for Ruled account books 
and circular ruling. 

Sibell & Mott, New-York, for Specimens of account books. 

Starr, C, New- York, for binding works for the Blind, with thick- 
ened margins to prevent the embossing from being pressed out. 



No. 126.] 173 

Walker, E. & Co., New- York, for a Bible, elaborately bound and 
ornamented, with a recess for a family register inside the cover. 

Class 19 : Carpets, &c. Prize Medal. — Albro & Iloyt, New Jer- 
sey, for Floor cloths. 
Honorahle Mention. — Lawrence, A. & A. & Co., Massachusetts, 
for Carpet, 

Class 20: Clothing, Shoes, &c. Prize Medals. — Addington, W. 
H., Norfolk, for shoes for mining purposes. 
Haight, Mi-s. E., New- York, for a Shirt. 
The workmen of Jeffers, W. H., New- York, for Ladies Boots and 

Shoes. 
Honorahle Mention. — Breed, N. A. & Co., Massachusetts, for Chil- 

drens' Shoes, 
Jefifers, W. H., New- York, for collection of Boots and Shoes. 
Mil ward James k Son, New- York, for Bonnets made of cotton 

braid. 

Class 21 : Cutlery & Edged Tools. Prize Medals. — Brown & 
Wells, Pennsylvania, for Tools. 
North Wayne Scythe Company, Maine, for Scythes. 
Simmons, D. & Co., New -York, for Edge Tools. 
Honorahle Mention. — A. B. Allen & Co., New- York, for Tools. 

Class 22: Iron and general Hardware. Prize Medals. — Ad- 
ams & Co., Massachusetts, for Bank lock. 
Arrowsmith, G. H., New- York, for Permutation Locks. 
Chilson, Richardson & Co., Massachusetts, for Hot Air Furnace. 
Cornelius & Co., Pennsylvania, for Chandeliers. 
Day & Newell, New- York, for parautoptic permutating Locks, 

(with special approbation.) 
Herring, S, C, New- York, for Salamander Safe 
HowlandjC, New- York, for Bell Telegraph. 
McGregor & Lee, Ohio, for Bank Lock. 
Honorahle Mention. — Pond & Co., Massachusetts, for Cooking 

Stoves. 



174 [Assembly 

Class 26. Prize Medal. — Brooklyn Flint Glass Co., New- York, 
for Flint Glass. 



Class 26 : Furniture, &c. Honorable Mention. — Ragan, W., 
Pennsylvania, for Reclining chair. 

Class 27 : Honorable Mention. — Maryland Soap Stone Company, 
for Articles made of Soap Stone. 
Salt & Mear, Ohio, for Water Vase of fine brick clay. 

Class 28 : India Rubber and other Manufactures from animal 
AND Vegetable Substances. Council Medal. — Goodyear, C, 

Connecticut, for India Rubber. 
Prize Medals. — Fenn, J., New- York, for Ivory Combs. 
Hay w^ard Rubber Company , Connecticut, for India Rubber Shoes. 
Loring, G., Massachusetts, for Water Pail. 
Moulton, S. C, Massachusetts, for India Rubber Goods. 
Pratt, Julius & Co., Connecticut, for Ivory veneer. 

Class 29 : Miscellaneous and small Wares. Prize Medals. — 
Bazin Xavier & Co., Pennsylvania, for Fancy Soaps. 
Hauel J., Pennsylvania, for Toilet Soaps. 
Louderback, M. J., Ohio, for Preserved Peaches. 
Maryland, State, for Collection of products. 
St. John, J. R., Buffalo, New- York, for Soap. 
Taylor, H. P. & W. C, Pennsylvania, for Toilet Soap. 

Class 30 : Sculpture. Prize Medal. — Powers, Hiram, for Statue 
of Greek Slave, in Marble. 



NEW-YORK. 

His Excellency Governor Fish, In July, 1850, appointed the fol- 
lowing gentlemen as a committee in behalf of the State of New- 
York, to examine and certify articles intended for exhibition in 
London. 

Hon. Luther Bradish, New- York. 

Gen. Adoniram Chandler, New- York. 

Charles Henry Hall, Esq., " 

Ezra P. Prentice, Esq., Albany. 

Benj. p. Johnson, Esq., " 

Hon. Anthony Van Bergen, Coxsackie. 

Hon. Zadock Pratt, Prattsville. 

Hon. William Buell, Rochester. 

The committee was organized on the 27th August, 1850, by the 
appointment of the Hon. Luther Bradish, Chairman, and B. P. 
Johnson, Esq., Secretary. The committee were engaged for a num- 
ber of weeks in the discharge of their duties, and examined several 
hundred articles offered for the exhibition . It is especially due to the 
chairman of the committee, Hon. Luther Bradish, to state, that it 
was owing to his unwearied efforts, that the entire list prepared 
from this State was arranged with so much care and attention, 
that it is believed no difficulty whatever occurred at the exhibi- 
tion, in regard to articles that had passed through his hands. The 
labors of the committee were very much increased, by an order 
from Washington after the time for receiving entries as originally 
made, had expired, authorizing persons from other States, to make 
their entries through the New- York committee, of which a consid- 
erable number availed themselves. The chairman of the com- 
mittee and Gen. Chandler, of New- York, had most of this labor 
imposed upon them. 



NEW-YORK. 

List of articles accepted by the Committeej and approved by the 
Central Authority at Washington. 

Ambler & Avery, New-York, Dentistry. 
Armstrong, S. T., do Air Pontoons. 

Allcott, James, do Dentistry. 

* Allen, George F., Utica, Telescopic Rifle. 
f Adams, Henry, New- York, Portable Saddle. 
American Chair Co., Troy, Chairs, Bedsteads and Railroad Seats, 
f Allen, A. B. k Co. New- York, Agricultural Implements. 
Atlantic Dock Mills, Brooklyn, Indian Meal, Flour, &c. 
fArrowsmith, George A., New- York, Jennings' Permutation lock, 
t Adirondack Steel Co., do Steel, Iron and Iron Ore. 
Brown, S. New- York, Body Brace Supporter. 

t Brooklyn Flint Glass Co., Samples of Glassware. 

t Bell, Thomas, Morrisania, Farm Products, Wheat, Rye, Oats, &c. 

Blakeslee, Joseph, North Castle, Merino Wool in fleece. 

Brown, Levi, Brooklyn, Gold Pens and Cases. 

t Brady, M. B., New- York, Daguerreotypes. 

Brady, D'Avignon & Co. New-York, Printing and Binding. 

* Bullock, S. W. & J., New- York, Self operating Oil Press. 
Benjamin, Joseph R., New- York, Elastic Trusses. 
Brown, Solyman, New- York, Dentistry. 

Brooks, Wm. T., New-York, Bell Telegraph. 
Barton, Caleb D., Keesville, Iron Ore. 
Blake, William, New- York, Mineral Fire Proof Paint. 
Bourgard, Charles, New-York, Hair Work. 
Boole, Leonard H., do Model Clipper Ship. 

Borham, Frederick, New-York, Model of New- York Exchange, 
(Broken at Southampton.) 
Bartholomew, J. H. New- York, Safety Valve Hydrant. 
Barlow, Edward, do Dentistry. 

Battey, Thomas, do Metallic Serving Mallets. 



^ 



No. 126.] 177 

Baron, Brothers, New- York, Balance Fire Ladder and Escape. 

Baron, Brothers, New- York, New application of blasts to furnaces. 

Brady, W. N., New- York, " Kedge Anchor," a work on practical 
seamanship. 

Buchman, John, New- York, view of New-York and Brooklyn. 

Bidwell, Rev. W. H., New- York, Maps. 

Brown & Lambert, New- York, Whitman's Patent Portable Bed. 

Blind, Institution of the. New- York, Samples of work. 

Chase, Miss Mary M., Chatham, Herbarium 300 N. Y. Plants. 

Chevalier, John D., New-York, Dental Instruments. 

Commerford & Redgate, New- York, Oak Chairs. 

Cochran, J. W., N. Y., Brick Machine. 

do. do. Bevel sawing and Stone dressing Machine. 

Clark, Ralph, do. Oat Meal. 

fColegate, Wm., & Co., New- York, Pearl Starch. 

Colton, J. H., New- York, Maps. 

Chatain, Henry, do. Patent Machine Moldings. 

Church & Chittenden, New- York, India Rubber Shoes. 

Clerihugh, Van, New- York, Hair Work. 

*Dean, Amos, & Co., Albany, Argillo Knobs &c. 

fDix, E. R., Vernon, Farm Products. 

Disturnell, J., New- York, Maps. 

fDay & Newell, New- York, Parautoptic Permutating Locks &c.v 

Day, Horace H., New- York, India Rubber Shoes &c. 

Dennington, C. L., do. Model of Floating Church. 

D'Avignon, Francis, do. Lithographs. 

fDick, D., do. Anti Friction Presses. 

*Emery & Co., Albany, Railroad Horse Power. 

Evans, 0. B., Buffalo, Daguerreotypes. 

Eddy & Co., Union Village, Horse Power. 

fErricson, John, New- York, Enginery, Mechanism and Nauti- 
cal Instruments. 

Endicott & Co., New- York, Lithography. 

Frisbie, M. J., New-York, India Rubber Shoes. 

Finch, Hiram, Honeoye, Genesee Flour. 

fFenn, John, New- York, Ivory articles. 

Fitch, Dr. Sam'l L., New- York, Plated Abdominal Supporters. 
M.— 1852. 



178 [Assembly 

t Feutchwanger, Dr. Lewis, New- York, Minerals and Mineral 
Substances used in the arts kc. 

Fox & Polhemus, New- York, Bolt of Cotton Duck. 

Grant, A. T., Schaghticoke, Fanning Mill. 

Goold, James, & Co., Albany, Pony Sleigh. 

*Gavit D. E., New- York, Daguerreotypes. 

Grilfen, Daniel, New- York, Anti Friction Box for Railroads, 
do. do. Model Steamboat Water Wheel, and 

Fuel-saving apparatus for Steam Boilers, &c. 

Griffith, J. W., New- York, Model Ocean Steamer. 

Godwin, Thomas, do. Enginery and Mechanism. 

Genin, John N., do. Hats and Caps. 

Gray, Dr. S., do. Artificial Eyes. 

Gardner, J. N., Troy, Curry Combs. 

Gibson, William, New- York, Stained Glass. 

Gwynne, J. Stuart, do. Centrifugal Pump. 

Hurst, James A., Albany, Preparation of Birds, &c. 

Hotchkiss, Gideon, Windsor, Tram Block and Noddle Iron. 

f Hecker & Brother, New- York, Genesee Flour, Farina, kc, 

f Herring, Silas C, New-York, Iron Safe. 

Hawes, G. E., New- York, Dentistry. 

Hotchkiss k Prescott, Phelps, Indian Meal, kiln dried. 

Hill, Cha's J. k Sons, Rochester, Genesee Flour. 

Harmon, Anan, Clifton, Genesee Flour. 

Hiler, Selah, New- York, Stair Rods, Type Distributor, &c. 

Harrison, C. C, do. Daguerreotypes. 

Higginbotham, L. C, Oneida, Miniature Steam Engine. 

Hannington, W. J., New- York, Stained Glass. 

Holmes, J. E., do. Ratchet Hoisting Machine. 

Haskell, Merritt & Bull, New- York, Powdered Drugs. 

Hill, John, New- York, Travelling Trunks. 

Hanley, James, New- York, Improved Key and Railroad Catcher. 

f Haight, Mrs. E., New- York, Shirt making. 

fHowland, Charles, do. Bell Telegraph. 

f Hotchkiss, H. G. & L. B., Lyons, Oil of Peppermint. 

f Hotchkiss Wm., Lewiston, Soule's Wheat. 

Jeffrey, Miss Agnes, Canandaigua, Painting Wild Flowers. 



NORTH 6ALLERY. 



Civil t:iujnueritttf SuvgCcal Instrtunen^s. d 

■ I IT-' 



rhi/osophu^al I/tstrmnentA' Mxisival /ustnim'itli 



C>ri/if i 



CCNTR-AL NORTH GALL 
CENTRAL SOUTH GALLI 



t 



5 z Tf^vhesicCiacM^. jPreciotui-.Afeials. Ribifons 



^ 



o (Tujij' Raw Produce T'eyetable ^ A^ibnut Su/jst 



50UTH GALLERY. 






Uachinery in- .Mbtiojv ^ 



^IfaxJvines m-^^ttotion 



Cotton 



Cotton 
MixncJiester. 



Tf^stern 
&e/resJutient C^ 



17V ^ 



J^Qp 



J^0oom-o6voes 



CarrUL^t 



Carrioufes. 



^fanu/hctures 



din 



Cotton 



^Leather Ficrs. KcUr. JFicr, 



BRITI 8H OR WEST 



< yi-m/iJifficlfi/eui^ J"Uuv M SAau)is J^oUe/i Fabrics, ffardioari Fui 



\/reCcin/^M: y^Uen iC<\€Lxed FcLhrirs Sheffield. 



S^arrdxociTe Coicr^t 



ixfr icuLhi.rcLl luipleiuents. 



J [ .iCiner'ctls ] ~I 



JTa-U 



E:t:i/^ 



nu/. 





J 


eouc, 




1 1 








.g 


^ . uTir. S. 


NORTH 6ALUERY. 


: 


- 




-Xy- 




- 


_ 


1 


— :; Tiirruin Stained Class. 


— , 


— . 


-■ r,mt E-iti/iiim-iiij/ Suri/tcul I,tslriunei,li. nulrrtMinaiMl. n:l'egrluHrMiuui 


it: 


Z 






l_ 


I 


n 


I 


— 1" 


*6?-«32^J 1 




, i 






^ 


Z /■/iilo.ia„lue(d lnsl,-n,nml.< .i[u.r,mUnj)tui,nnns OUtss. Glass. fpi 


^r 






//Sfc^ 


••""■"■'" ■ '^"'"' ■'■'«'" 


(^ 


_ 


1 


"".111" " 
CENTRAL SOUTH SALLtRY. 




0ENTBAL__^JOUTH^_«Al^LERY ^ 


r 


1 


z Tf^udiealcCloclis J'reru>ii.^.:iUlals. Bibdcis Xru-e Tajieslru Silk 


. 




11?/ 








^4 f^z;^ 


rr 




^...„..„, = ^,„...,.V,„.., 


- 




O ■ II M 




-4 






w- 




,. J- 






1 I 11 Ma 






5 


o Ou^ KamJIacluce Vei/elabU i: J„i„ml S,U,sl„m-e,- C/,t„dcals. 








:r 


S' 






ix — \ 


■EIIJ 




« 






=. 








§ 










SOUTH SAI.LERT 




1 

=? 










i^ 












J-/KUO 


s. 




^.,.,.. 





























I; 



PIAJTot CrROl^l>fD north 



.MncJtijirs m. Motion 



^ Western r-r 

Conors. IVsefi^^h^ient Ct^ b 






rc/iCT-f-fl Oirecfu 



rA Fiita: [jToitr. J^ivrvti, 






I '■■"■''^' 



B„^>^*.%,„» 


.^.B.^w.K''-— 




FurmJure 


]brdu,a^e. 


OuULlUl. 


■ 






&,todB»ft*i7, v. Itarf. «*,■, ,v 


S/ttflieU 




-.^-fe 


\ '^ 


. 


mintioare CouT-t 


J * 




^ 


,lfir,cuUu.vcU Implements. tf 




1 1 .JOner-ais 


1 




|— 1 Tre> 




«>''-■- 



f 






IB 



rch^"'-'""'"" "■' 



SeU/ium. X„nserein 



u 



Pijviv or 



■ t:- 



Subs \ — \ — -^ 



Gl 

G( 

Gr 



(HcLSS. 



(rlas^. 



£ RY. 



To6tevvf 



.^0t\ei 



n' 



% a. 



fP'XiKi 



Floioer' 



W. 



e:ry. 



I' ace Tof^efftrx/ Silk 



Fuel 



Q^ cctices ChendcccU. 

Gc 

G€ 

Gr 

Ga 
Gi 

Hi 



SUk 



.mh^ 



Shcuo.s 



'^ilzei'UaicL 



-^ 



Sosiery. 



^T*cai 



cTimeri/ 



He 

tE 
tB 

Ha 

He 

Ha 



NORTH ENTRANCE 






y\c** 



DPI.OC 



*^t€bdeZs 



i % 



f'J \QueensjRoonL 



i:itvcre . 



Fine A^r-ts- 



JPagcfei 



Hi 

HaERN NAVE 

Hi; 



YeTseif. m& Zta. 



J^irung 



Tuvkey 



JFrancf 



Wgyj>t.^- 



Tersiu, Gred 






Stal 



FoTuUaxn.. 



Ho 

Ha 

Hi] 

Ha 

tH 

tH 
tH 

tH 

Jefi 



^SjorcLiooj^e . 



^ming7€ 



Ofedt 
XEval 
Court 



Gtrvcula. 



I 



-TT 



ture. 
West TndXes. 



JS::fyit 



O^ces 



Chi.ivcL 



Swvtxerlcau 



i3rcnul . 



StutuI 






SOUTH ENTRANCE 



RIES 



NORTH 


OALLERY 












uf/i a/td J-breifffi Stained Gia^\f 


o 






1 




1 




m 








I^'((/tH//t . 


■ 




. iush^ia 


■ 


rruled .SYn/es 


z 




CENTRAL NORTH GALLERY. 


E 












CENTRAL 80UTH 6ALLERY 






i> /-rajwe 


^^{usirm 




XvUz>eT'ei7i . 




t^rUteci Slates. 


_ 




h 


^ 






= 








•e. 


■ 


1 




» l^fisre^/a^^ u s 


X 




30UT 


H 


GA|,LE 


.K^ 


r. 






— L 







-Frai 



(?enl^. 



Open 



Me/re shm en t Cojij^t- 



GeTTnany. g 



JBelg. 






^Zlvereifv 



UriUrd Stcvtes 



IREIGN OR EASTERN NAVE 




I 



Ea:U 



h'Xlt 



Mic'fL^MAase. &^ ^Zij-uu^. 



No, 126.] 179 

f Iron Bridge Co., New- York, Iron Bridge. 

f JeHers, W, H., do. Ladies French Shoes. 

tWorkmeu of W. H. Jeffers, do do 

Jennings, W, T. k Co., New- York, Coat and Pantaloons. 

Jacot & Courvoisier, do. Watcli. 

fKirtland, B, B., Greenbush, Indian Corn with its preparations 
for use, 

Leask, Mi's. J,, Albany, Needlework, 

Leary & Co., New- York, Hats. 

f Lawrence, M. M., New- York, Daguerreotypes, 

Leach, M. S. & H. J , Lyons, Genesee Flour. 

Lyon, Emanuel, New- York, Magnetic Powders, 

Lathrop, J., Le Roy, Genesee Flour. 

Lee, Wellington, New- York, Spathic Ore. 

Lloyd, Lyman J., Albany, Single Harness, Trunks and Valises. 

Low, Lynch & Co. New- York, Soap. 

Learned & Thatcher, Albany, Stoves, 

Moi-e, D. D, T., Water vliet, Corn Brooms. 

f Millward, James & Son, New- York, White Pamela Bonnets. 

Mawson, Brothers, New- York, Muff", Victorine and Wristlett's 
of American Fur, 

Meade, Brothers, New-York, Daguerreotypes. 

Macey, Josiah & Sons, New- York, Spermacetti andSperm Candles. 

McWeeney, Michael, New- York, Portable Parlor Green House. 

Mott, C. A., Lansingburgh, Mineral Paint, 

*Mix&Gardner, Schoharie, Model of aWagon with improved axle. 

Macey, Stanton & Co., New -York, Woolen Cassimeres. 

t New- York State Agricultural Society, 35 varieties of Wheat, 
prepared by Gen. Roswell Harmon, Wheatland. 

t Nunns & Clark, New-York, two Pianos. 

t Oswego Starch Factory, Oswego, Starch and Pudding Starch. 

Oliver, T., New- York, Tailoi-s Transfers and Patterns. 

Page, Ezekiel, New- York, Oai^, Sweeps and Sculls. 

Pratt, Zadock, Prattsville, Leatlier, Hemlock and Oak Tanned, 
and Lithography of Prattsville. 

t Pirsson, James, New-York, Double Grand Action Piano Forte. 

* Petei^, T. C, Darien, Sack of fine Wool. 



180 [Assembly 

f Pell, Robert L., Pelham, American Woods. 
Putnam, G. P., New-York, Books and binding 
Pooley, Samuel I., New- York, Fine Cutlery. 
Pecare & Smith, New- York, Case of Colt's Pistols. 
Plialon E., New -York, Hair Work. 

* Pease, Richard H., Albany, Lithographs American Fruits. 

* Parker & Brown, Utica, Bale Wool. 

t Palmer, W. R. New-York, Target Rifle. 

* Read, Charles A., Washington Mills, Fluted Fulling Mill. 
Ross, Charles, Rochester, Fitzgerald Portable Grist Mills. 
Rousseau, A. J., Troy, Essex Iron Ore. 

Roy, W. L., New-York, Hebrew and English Dictionaries. 

Railings, Mrs. W., New- York, Millinery. 

t Raymond & Schuyler, West Farms, Flour and Pearl Barley. 

Rogers, James, New- York, Telegraph Register and Keys. 

Smith, Leonard, Troy, 2 smut machines. 

f Starr, Charles, New- York, 2 machines for Printing and Backing 
books. 

f Starr, Charles, New-York, Bible for the Blind. 

f St. John, John N., Buffalo, Self-determining Compass. 

St. John, John N., do Aquatic Velocimeter, and Geered 
hand Log. 

Starbuck, N. B., Troy, Fourteen Plows. 

Sherman & Smith, New- York, Map United States. 

Smead, Charles New- York, House's Printing Telegraph. 

Simmons, Mrs. M., New- York, Millinery. 

Spaulding, J., New- York, Silk Quilt. 

f Sibell & Mott, do Bank Account Books. 

Sperry, Henry, do Clock. 

Stanson, David, do Penmanship. 

Seaburry, J. & J. L., New York, Stove Polish 

t Simmons, D. & Co., Cohoes, Edge Tools. 

Stevens, Henry, New- York, Preserved Peaches. 

Stevens & Co. Corrugated Boiler and Bridge and Excavator, by 
G. R. Montgomery. 

Tuckerman, E.G., New- York, Model for tempering and straight- 
ening saws. 



No, 12C.] 181 

Tuckerman, E. G. New- York, Butterworth's Combination Lock. 

Tuckerman, E. G. New-York, Air exhausted Coffin. 

Thompson, Wm. M., New- York, Pictorial Book Binding Stamps. 

Thornton, Mrs. Frances, New- York, Shirt and Laundry work. 

Thompson, Sam. L., Setauket, Australian Wheat. 

Tuph, John, New- York, Cane Chairs. 

Tobit, John, H., New- York, combination Type. 

t Truesdell, Jacobs & Co., New- York, Cotton. 

* Wright, W. P & C. B., Rochester, Bevel Sawing Machine. 

Wells, Levi, Rochester, W^ieel Cultivator. 

Woodcock, Frederick, Brooklyn, Oil Cloth. 

Wood, Tomlinson & Co., New- York, Sporting Wagon. 

f Walker, Edward & Co., New- York, specimens of Binding (Bible.) 

The following entries, from this State, were made at the Palace 
in London, after the Exhibition was opened. 

Adams, N., New- York, Brick Making Machine. 

Anthony, C. J., New- York, Breech Loading Gun. 

Andrews, H. Q.,Townsends' Sarsaparilla. 

Biu'ch, L. D., Waterville, Cooking Stove, Air Tight. 

Beach, Brothers, New-York, cheap American newspapers. 

Beach, W., New- York, Books on Botany. 

Brainard, C. H., New- York, Daguerreotypes of Presidents of the 
United States. 

Browning, William, drawing of engine, steamer " Pacific." 

Commerford k Redgate, New-York, light cane Chairs. 

Campbell, S., New -York, a Lapping Machine. 

Dusphin J. E., Self-adjusting Churn. 

Dawson, George, Albany, file New- York State Newspapers. 

Eddy, G. W. k Co., Waterford, Patent, toughened metallic rail- 
way wheels. 

Francis, J., New- York, rowing boat of Spanish Cedar. 

Forrest, R., New- York, shirts. 

Howe, David W., New- York, Townsend's Sarsaparilla. 

jHerrick, J. K., New- York, Account Books. 

Hyde, J. J., New- York, Axle-Tree. 



182 [ASSEMBLT 

Harris, Waterville, Patent Paint Mills. 

LeRoy &C0.5 New- York, Tin pipes made by Hydraulic pressure. 

f Lerow & Blodget, New- York, Sewing Machin 

Mahony, Barrel Beef. 

Miles, Pliny, New- York, Gold and Silver Coins. 

Miller, John E., New- York, New Orleans Moss. 

Nicholson, A., New- York, Table Cover. 

Oliver, F., New- York, Apparatus for measuring. 

Prosser, T., New- York, Model machine for rolling Tin. 

Prosser, T. & Sons, New- York, Model Horse Power and other 
machines. 

Roy, James & Co., West Troy, Woolen Shawls from Merino 
Wool. 

Ross, G., New- York, India Rubber Shoes. 

Rodgers, S. H., New- York, Velocipedes. 

Shearman, E. S., New- York, Lard Oil. 

Smith, J. M. & Co., New-York, Barrel Beef. 

t St. John, J. R., Buffalo, Caldwell, Payson & Cos., "Excelsior 
Soap." 

Tyler, P. B., New- York, Railway Switch and Water Guage. 

Willard, Mrs. Emma, Troy, Chronological Charts, &c. 

Whipple, J. E., West Troy, Lard Oil. 



* Several of the articlea entered were not sent to the Exhibition, and are noted with a ♦ as 
far as recollected. 
t Prizes awarded or Honorable Mention given. 



INDEX 



Page. 

Albert, Prince, Report to Her Majesty, - - - - 8 

do do Remarks on Exhibition, . - - - 9 

Agricultural Society, N. Y., Wheat, - - - - 34 

Atlantic Dock Mills, New- York, Indian Meal, - - - 36 

do do do Flour, - - - - 38 

Albert, Prince, Model Cottage of, 64 

Appold's Centrifugal Pump, 66 

Applegate's Printing Machine, 74 

Agricultural Implements, Class 9, 77 

Agftcultural Implements, India, 77 

do do United States, Remarks on, - 79 

Awards, Plows, at Hounslow, 86 

American Implements, General Remarks, - - - 100 

Atmospheric Recorder, 119 

Adams & Co., Lock, Medal, ------ 143 

Arrowsmith, do. 143 

Awards to United States, Prizes, &c., - - - - 168 

Bell, Thomas, United States Exhibitor, - - - - 33 

Borden, Gail, jr.. Meat biscuit, 38 

Beef, Ham, &c., United States, 38 

Butter, Preserved fresh, 39 

Beet Sugar, - 43 

Blakeslee, Wm. United States, Merino Wool, - - - ^^ 46 

Brussels Carpet, by power loom. United States, - - - 58 

Book Binding and Backing Machines, N. Y., - - - 60 

Brittania Hydraulic Press, ------- 66 

Brittania Bridge, - 75 

Busby's Prize English Plow, 79 



184 [Assembly 

Page. 

Belgian Plows, --.--..-85 

Belgian Drill, - 85 

Busby's One Horse Cart, 109 

Burgess & Key, American Churn, - - - - - 110 

do Turnip Cutter, - - - - - 111 

Bond & Son, Boston, Astronomical Machinery, - - - 114 

Balances, - - - - 117 

Bibles, British and Foreign Society, 129 

Book Binding, United States, &c. 131 

Bramah's Lock, opened by Hobbs, 140 

do Report of Arbitrators, - - - - 141 

Bell Telegraphs, United States, 144 

Brooks, W. T., Bell Telegraph, - - - - - 144 

Classes of Articles on Exhibition, 8 

Council of Chairmen, - 10 

Chairmen of Juries, pll 

Coal, 18 

Chemical Products, 23 

Countries exhibiting Grain, 32 

Coffee, ----...-.- 40 

Chicory, its Culture and Preparation, - - . - 40 

Cotton, United States, Medals awarded, - - - - 44 

Cotton fiber, modified by alkali, &c., . - - - 44 

Claussen's, Chevalier, flax preparation, - - - - 48 

do process shown, 51 

Colgate & Co., N. Y., Starch, 57 

Caloric Engine, description of, 60 

Compressed Tree-nails for Railroads, 65 

Centrifugal Pump, Appold's, ------ 66 

Carriages, ---- 67 

Cotton Machinery, description of, 70 

do do history of, 70 

Coining Presses, -- ^^2 

Claussen's Circular Loom, 75 

Civil Engineering, - - "75 



No. 126.] 185 

Page. 
Coifs Pistols, 75 

Crosskill's Clod Crusher, 105 

Carts for farm use, - - 107 

Chm-ns, 110 

Calculating Machine, - - 117 

Cases for Plants, 118 

Colton's Sovereign- weighing machine, 119 

Clocks, - - - - 120 

Clocks made by a Tailor and Blacksmith, - - - - 121 

Cotton Goods, - - 122 

do do United States,- - - - - - - 122 

Cashmere Wool, Prince Albert's, 126 

Chubb's Locks, opened by Hobbs, 139 

Carpets, 132 

China Ware, Class 25, 147 

Contributors to this class, 147 

Corn Brooms, United States, 151 

Dix, E. R., Farm Products, 43 

Dick's Anti Friction Presses, 68 

Ducie, Earl, Drag and Harrow, - - - - - 192 

Dynamometer, -112 

Durrin, Count, Expanding Figure, - - - 114 

Day & Newell's Lock, -.._--- 143 

do Medal Awarded, 143 

Dodge, N. S., - 164 

Exhibition, its Origin, -- 6 

Exhibitors, number of, 8 

do from United States, 8 

Exhibition opened, 8 

English grains, - - 24, 31 

Exchanging products, - - - -.- - -24 

Egypt, grains from, - 42 

Erriccson, N. Y., Caloric Engine, - - - - - 60 
Eastman's Stone Cutting Machine, 72 



186 [Assembly 

Page. 

English Plows Tried, 86 

English Implements noticed, 102 

Eddy's Horse Power, 113 

Electric Telegraph, 118 

Electro-plating process, - -144 

Exhibition, beneficial results, 154 

Peaceful lessons, 154 

Starting point for improvement, - - - 155 

Government exhibitors, 156 

Private exhibitors, -- - - - 156 

Lessons to be drawn, - - - - - -157 

Flour, - - - - 37 

From United States, ------ 38 

Prizes to Hecker, Raymond & Schuyler, - - 38 

From France, Mons. Darblay, 37 

Finch, H., flour, - 38 

Flax, exhibition, 46 

Methods of preparation, 47 

Schenck's system, 47 

Claussen's do 48 

Cotton, Flax wool. Flax silk, 52 

General remarks, - - 53 

Belfast Improvement Society, 54 

Countries exhibiting, 54 

French plows, 84, 85 

Fowler's Draining Plow, 109 

Flax and hemp. Class 14, ' - -125 

French shawls, 126 

Furs, 128 

French exhibition, by Mons. Tours, 131 

Fabrics, woven, &c.. Class 18, 132 

Furniture, Paper Hangings, &c., 147 

Geological arrangement of soils, 25 

Gibbs, Seedsmen Royal Society, ----- 31 



No. 126.] 187 

Page. 

Gruaux Flour from France, 37 

Greece, raw materials from, 42 

Graiix, S. S., France, new breed of Merino Sheep, - - 45 

Gwynne's Pump, U. S., 67 

Goold, James & Co., Sleigh, - 68 

Grant's Fanning Mill, 112 

Goodyear's India Rubber Flute, 120 

Geneva Miniature Watches, - - - - - - 120 

do Mechanism bird, 120 

Gold from California, 145 

Gold Plate, E. K. Collins, 145 

Glass, 146 

Glass, Brooklyn, U. S., 146 

Glass Plate, 146 

Goodyear's India Rubber, 149 



Hybridization of Wheat, 32 

Hotchkiss,Wm.,N. Y., Wheat, 34 

Harmon, Roswell, N. Y., Wheat, 34 

Harmon, A., Flour, 38 

Hecker & Brother, Flour, Prize Medal, - - - - 38 

Hill, C. J. & Son, Flour, 38 

Hams, U.S., 38 

Hops, English, their culture, &c. 41 

Golden, very superior, 41 

Hollow Bricks for building, ------ 62 

Cuts of ------ . 63-4 

French 65 

Hibbert, Piatt & Sons, Cotton machinery, - - - 70 

Horse Hoe, Garret's, 102 

Hay Maker, cut and description, 104 

Herrick, N. Y., ruling account books, Medal, - - . 131 
Hobbs, A. C, opening English locks, - - - . 130 
Howland, C, Bell Telegraph, Medal, 146 



188 [Assembly 

Page. 

Jurors, arrangement of, 9 

Division of, 10 

Instructions as to prizes, - - - - - - 10 

Manner of discharging duties, - - - - 12 

Johnson, B. P., Letter to Duke of Richmond, - - - 26 

Jacquard loom, 58 

do Barlow's, 69 

India, Agricultural Implements, 77 

Ide's Wheel Cultivator, 113 

Jewelry, 146 

India Rubber, -- 149 

India Rubber Globes, - -149 

Jefifers, Miss, Painting Wild Flowers, N. Y., - - -157 
Jurors from United States, List of, 167 

Koh-i-noor diamond, - - -145 

LeRoy & Co., Tin pipe, 21 

Lawson, Peter & Son, seeds and grasses, - - - - 29 

Leach, M. & H. S., Flour, 38 

Lathrop, J., Flour ---38 

Lerow & Blodget, Rotary sewing machine, - - _ 72-3 

Life Boats, - 76 

Love, Peter, remarks on plowing, 89 

Leather, Saddlery and Harness, - 126 

Lloyd, Harness, Trunks, 127 

Lithograph printing, - - - - - - - -131 

Lawrence Abbott, American Minister, - - - - 164 

Medals to be awarded, 10 

Minerals, Alabama, 21 

Dr. Feutchwanger, N. Y., 21 

Mineral Paint, U. S., Blake & Mott, 23 

Meat Biscuit, from Texas, - 38 

Milk, solidified, 39 

Millet, Russia, 40 



No. 126.] 189 

Page. 

Maple Sugar, United States, 43 

Merino Wool, from France, 45 

Machines for direct use, - - 57 

Macliines and tools for manufactories, 68 

Marine Glue, 76 

McCormick's Reaper, - 99 

Manure Distributors, 105 

Musical Instruments, 119 

Mixed fabrics, including shawls, 125 

Machine from Paisley, for Patterns of Shawls, &c., - -126 

Mawson, C, New-York Furs, 128 

Mann, A. Tours, France, Books, 131 

McGregor & Lee, Locks, Medal, 144 

Mineral substances, manufactured, ----- 144 

Malachite, from Russia, 144 

Manufactures from animal and vegetable substances, - - 149 

Miscellaneous manufactures,) 150 

More, D. D. T., New-York, Corn Brooms, - - - - 151 

Maps, United States, 151 

Naval Architecture, 75 

Norwegian Harrow, 105 

National Exhition in U. S., 163 

Oswego Starch Factory, - - - - - - 56, 36 

Oil cake, -- --41 

Oils, H. G. & L. B. Hotchkiss, N. Y., 56 

Palac-e — its dimensions, ------- 7 

Diagram of, 7, 8 

Prizes, how awarded, 11 

Phosphate of Lime, N. Y., 25 

Analysis by Prof. Way, - - - 27 

Demands for, 28 

Potatoes preserved, 40 

Pell, R. L., N. Y., American Woods, 55 



i§0 fAsSEMBLY 

Page. 

Peppermint, Oil of, N. Y., - 56 

Printing Presses, 58 

Printing Macliines, Applegate's, - - - - . 74 

Plows, English, 78 

American and foreign, remarks on, - . _ 79 
Trial of at Hounslow, - - - • - 83 

French, — - - 84 

Prouty & Mears, U. S., 89, 84 

Starbuck's, U. S., 86, 84 

Belgian, Canada, Austria, &c., - - - - - 85 
Plowing, remarks on trial at Hounslow, - - - - 88 

Plowing, Peter Love's, remarks on, 89 

Plows tested by Dynamometer, 91 

Plows, American, Torrington, 92 

Pinkus, Steam Machinery, 105 

Philosophical instruments — Class 10, 114 

Pianos from United States, 120 

Palmer's Artificial Leg, 121 

Pratt, Zadock, Leather, 127 

Paper, Stationery, &c., 129 

Printing, Austria, 129 

Printing, Prussia, &c., 131 

Printing and binding, medals, 131 

Paper hangings. Paper Mache, &c., 148 

Products of United States entered at Liverpool, - - 150 

Painting Wild riowers. Miss Jeffers, 151 

Powers' Greek Slave, 152 

Peabody, George, London, 167 

Queen Victoria, opening Exhibition, . - - . g 

Queen Victoria's Carpet, 132 

Queen of Spain's Jewels, 145 

Queen Victoria's Koh-i-noor, 145 

Report, -- 5 

Russian Grains, 24 



No. 126.] 191 

Page. 

Rape Seed, 30 

Russian collection of Seeds, 32 

Royal Agricultural Society of England, on Flax, - - 49 

Railways in England, when begun, 57 

Ransom k May's Compressed tree nails for Railroads, - 65 

Rider's patent Iron Bridge, 75 

Reaping Machines, 95 

Reapers, trial of at Tip-Tree Hall, 93 

Reaper, McCormick's, cut, 99 

Reapers, Mr. Pusey's report, 96 

Ross, Portable Mills, 113 

Ross' Telescope, 114 

Roy, Jas. & Co. Shawls, New- York, 125 

Royal Commissioners, 163 

Riddle, E., United States Commissioner, - - - - 164 

Sweden, Iron, 20 

Substances used for food, -------23 

SoilSjAgricultural, 25 

Spain, Grain, 32 

Sugar, countries exhibiting, 43 

Sugar, (Beet) and (Maple), ^43 

Strean, J. G., United States, Wood, 45 

Silesian Wool, very fine, 45 

Spain, Wool, 46 

Schenck's Flax preparation, | 47 

Silk, exhibition, --54 

England, 55 

Starch, New- York, Oswego Starch Co., - - - - 56 

Analysis of Oswego, 56 

Colgate & Co., New-York, 57 

Steam Engines, - 59 

Starr, Charles, New- York, Book Binding Machines, - - 60,72 

Sleighs, 68 

Sewing Machine, Lerow & Blodgett's, - - - - 72 
Starbuck's Side Hill Plows, 82 



193 [AssEMBp 

Page. 

Starbuck's Plow with one horse, 91 

Steam Plow, 109 

Steam Engines for farm purposes, Ill 

Smut Machines, L. Smith, - 112 

St. John, Buffalo, Compass & Velocimeter, - - - 114 

Sovereign Weighing Machine, 119 

Surgical instruments, - -121 

Silk and Velvet, - - 124 

Shawls, Wool, United States, 125 

Split Paper, 130 

Starr, C, New- York, Medal, Binding, - - - - 131 
Sibell & Mott, New- York, Medal, Account Books,- - - 131 
Silver Table Top, for Pasha Aleppo, - - - - 145 

St. John, U. S., Medal for Soap, 150 

Sculpture, 152 

Greek Slave, 152 

Stevenson's Wounded Indian, 152 

Science and Art, developed in Exhibition, - - - - 162 
Stansbury, Charles F., - 164 

Tin, Le Eoy & Co., N. Y., - 21 

Thompson, S. L., N. Y., wheat, 34 

Tropics, bread from, 40 

Tobacco, U. S., 42 

Teas from China, &c., 42 

Tunisian Agriculturallmplements, Ill 

Turnip cutter. Burgess & Keys, Ill 

Thrashing Machines, 112 

Tartans and Alpaccas, 124 

Tapestry Carpets, Class 19, 132 

Taxidermy, Stuffed animals, - - - -- -151 

do J. A. Hurst, 152 

Times, London, on American contributions, - - - 1 59 

do Success of America, - - - - 160 

Thompson, Pishey, London, 164 



i 



United States, Grrain, ' ~ « ^ . ^ - - 33. 

Exidbition, Class 3,. ----- 43* 

Award for Models of sMps^ - - - 15. 

Uley Scarifier, - - - - « - - ^ - 10^ 

U. S^ Exhibition,- not unfavorable, « ^ ^ - - 162 

Vilmorin, L. Paris, Wheats, --_.-__ 2^ 
Vegetable and animal substances, Class 4,. - - - 44 

iTay, Prof, Analysis, Phosphate of Limey _. - ^ - 27 
Wool, description of exhibition,. - - - - ^45 

Silesian and Merino,. _-----_ 45 

Australian, - - _--.-. ^ 46^ 

South Down fleece, England, _ - « . _ 46: 

Fleece, Magdeburgh -_-...-. 46' 

Woods, America, R.L. Pell, _.----« 5'5 

Woodbury's Planing Machine,. --.--- ^ 72f 
Woolen Machinery, - _---«_ 72^ 

Willis' Great Organ, - - - - - -► - -^ II^- 

Watches, ..--^-^..^ 120^ 
Wa.'ch, tiny, Geneva, -_-^^~^. 120^ 
Wo( lens and Worsteds, - - - ^ - - ~ 122.^ 
Walker & Co., Medal, Binding, ----- - 131 

Working in precious metals, Class 23,. - - ^- .- M4 

TachtSy .__.-^^^-.-7g 

Zinc Ore, New Jersey, - - ^ « . _ 21 

Zollverein, department of Exliibition, &c.,. - ^ - - 145 



N.--^l-85^,. 



W 1 4 6 











/% 











f«S.^.' ■*'>. A* '■J^m^' .a. /•.. ►.R5) . V. 













Q V . O " « « *^ 

Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
I Treatment Date: Oct. 2003 

^o PreservationTechnologies j 

•^ A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION ' 

^ . Ill Thomson Park Drive 

Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



• • • » * »■ '^ Jk V • » 




^o 



















